PM Reviews Medical Oxygen Stocks As India Looks To Import Amid Shortage

Several states, including worst-hit Maharashtra, have complained of a shortage of medical oxygen because of massive demand triggered by the Covid surge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today briefed about the efforts being made by the government to import medical grade oxygen to bridge the demand-supply gap amid a massive surge of coronavirus cases across the country. At a review meeting comprising senior officials of several ministries, PM Modi suggested that the production of medical oxygen should be scaled up as per capacity of each plant, a government statement said. India on Friday reported over 2 lakh coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day. Several states, including worst-hit Maharashtra, have complained of a shortage of medical oxygen because of massive demand triggered by the Covid surge. PM Modi's review comes a day after the Centre identified 12 states - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan - as those having high Covid "burden".