First 4 oxygen tanks air-lifted from Singapore

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24

Four cryogenic tanks that can be used to fill much-needed liquid medical oxygen are expected to reach India from Singapore by Saturday evening.

An Indian Air Force (IAF)  C-17 plane landed at Changi airport Singapore on Saturday morning. It was expected to fly back and reach Panagarh in West Bengal by evening, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said.

From Panagarh the tanks will be routed by road to several steel plants in adjoining Chhatisgarh and Orissa for filling oxygen for further supplies to several states.

An IAF C-17 can carry some 74 tonnes of load. Notably, the Singapore Air Force uses American platforms and automated loading machines including fork-lifts match the size and height of C-17 loading ramp.

The US, the UK and Japan also use the C-17 and Singapore is turn around base for several of the Non-Asian countries hence is well equipped to handle emergencies.

In the area of defence, India and Singapore have a ‘comprehensive partnership’, which includes, Annual Ministerial and Secretary level dialogues.