Green corridor for tankers with oxygen to COVID-19 hospital; Delhi police steps in

New Delhi: Two tankers carrying 19,500 litres of liquid oxygen from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana were provided with a green corridor for a hospital in Delhi reeling under the spread of COVID.

Delhi police facilitated the passage for speedy delivery of the much-needed gas for life-saving operations in the hospital situated in outer Delhi's Paschim Vihar on Tuesday. The trucks carrying the oxygen had to urgently reach Sri Action Balaji Hospital, where oxygen levels had reached a critical point, but were stuck in a traffic jam, officials said.

The police received information around 11.30 pm on Monday and immediately teams were rushed to ensure smooth passage for the containers, the official said.

"A dedicated corridor was provided by Outer district police for two oxygen tankers carrying 19,500 litres of liquid oxygen from the UP and Haryana borders. The containers had to reach all-COVID Action Balaji Hospital. The two tankers were escorted by Delhi police vehicles," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sudhanshu Dhama.

Meanwhile, 25 oxygen cylinders were arranged through the cooperation of medical superintendents of Sanjay Gandhi, Bhagwan Mahavir, Maharaja Agrasen and Jaipur Golden hospitals, he said.

Dr. Sunil Sumbil, medical superintendent of Sri Balaji Action Hospital thanked the Delhi Police for its efforts.

"The oxygen levels at our facility had reached a critical point. The vehicles carrying liquid oxygen could not reach on time as they were stuck in a traffic jam. We immediately informed the police and they rushed their teams. They created a green corridor and both vehicles reached on time," he said.

If the tankers had not reached in time, the lives of COVID-19 patients would have been in danger, he said.

(Based on PTI feed)