Amid irregular supply, oxygen unit gets functional at Panchkula hospital

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 6

With the district struggling to get uninterrupted oxygen supply, an oxygen production unit installed at the Civil Hospital started functioning this evening.

Officials said the unit began supplying oxygen to beds after approval of the sample by a Gurugram lab.

The unit, installed by Absstem Technologies, can supply uninterrupted oxygen to 30 beds 24x7.

The production capacity of the unit is 300 litres per minute (LPM).

A similar plant with triple the capacity will come up adjacent to the current one soon.

“Once the second one gets operational, oxygen supply for around 100 beds at the Civil Hospital can be ensured,” the Civil Surgeon, Dr Jasjeet Kaur, said.

Asked about the oxygen emergency that arose on Tuesday night that put the lives of over 150 patients at the Civil Hospital at risk, she said, “Efforts are on to ensure uninterrupted supply from Roorkee. We have sufficient quantity of oxygen cylinders as backup. The administration is trying its best to ensure such a situation does not arise again.” The district continues to face irregular supply of oxygen from a plant in Roorkee due to technical and transportation issues.

On Tuesday evening, the district administration had to seek emergency help from Punjab after there was a delay in supply from Roorkee.

Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta said he was making efforts to ensure supply for Panchkula from the Inox Air plant in Barotiwala in Himachal Pradesh as earlier.

“It takes more than four hours for oxygen tankers to reach the district from Roorkee. Their arrival is getting delayed due to the distance and some technical issues,” he said. Gupta said he discussed the matter with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ask the Central Government to restore the supply for Panchkula from Himachal. “After the Centre’s order, the district had been attached to the plant in Roorkee,” an official said.

Can cater to 30 beds

• The unit, installed by Absstem Technologies, can supply uninterrupted oxygen to 30 beds 24x7
• The production capacity of the unit is 300 litres per minute (LPM)
• A similar plant with triple the capacity will come up adjacent to the current one soon.

Panchkula reports 2 deaths, 394 cases

Panchkula: The district on Thursday reported 394 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the overall tally to 23,569. The district also witnessed two Covid deaths. While the death toll now stands at 236, the active caseload has reached 2,452. TNS

6 more succumb in Mohali, 942 +ve

Mohali: Six deaths due to Covid-19 surfaced in the district during the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 657. Meanwhile, 942 more persons were diagnosed with Covid till Thursday evening and 727 patients were cured. There are 8,910 active cases in the district. TNS

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.