Still short of medical Oxygen, people dying: Punjab Govt to High Court

Chandigarh, May 21

“Our people are dying,” the state of Punjab today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Appearing before a Division Bench, state Advocate-General Atul Nanda said Covid patients were still gasping for oxygen.

Nanda told the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh that the state was still suffering from oxygen deficit.

“Out of six containers, which I had requested through the court, I received just two. As a result of lack of containers, half the quantity of oxygen I have not been able to pick it up from Bokaro,” Nanda submitted, asking the Centre to step in.

Nanda submitted the government’s main emphasis at present was on providing help to villages. “We have 12,700 villages with 2,950 sub-centres. As many as 2,400 of these sub-centres have been converted into health wellness centres, with each catering to 5,000 population.”

Nanda also told the Bench 30,000 vials of Amphotericin B drug had been ordered by the state from a drug company to treat black fungus. “We will be placing periodic orders,” he added.

Nanda also told the Bench the issue of telemedicine was being examined separately and the court may issue appropriate directions for the purpose.

Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain, meanwhile, submitted the central control room was processing forthwith requests for additional ventilators and containers received from every state and immediate steps were being taken.

“The Union of India may apprise the court of progress in this regard on or before the next date of hearing,” the Bench added before fixing the case for May 25. — TNS