• A woman takes care of her husband who has Covid-19 as they wait outside the casualty ward at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, in New Delhi, India. Reuters
    A woman takes care of her husband who has Covid-19 as they wait outside the casualty ward at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, in New Delhi, India. Reuters
  • Family members mourn after a man is declared dead amid a surge in coronavirus cases in India. Reuters
    Family members mourn after a man is declared dead amid a surge in coronavirus cases in India. Reuters
  • A patient with breathing problems is seen inside a car while waiting to enter a hospital for treatment, amid the spread of the coronavirus in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
    A patient with breathing problems is seen inside a car while waiting to enter a hospital for treatment, amid the spread of the coronavirus in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
  • India’s second Covid-19 wave is devastating, with more than new 200,000 coronavirus cases recorded each day. Reuters
    India’s second Covid-19 wave is devastating, with more than new 200,000 coronavirus cases recorded each day. Reuters
  • Dr Rajesh Bhagchandani, centre, a director at Apex hospital in Bhopal city, intubates a patient. He feels helpless that the hospital, which is now reserved for critically ill Covid-19 patients, cannot accommodate more people who require oxygen. Dr Rajesh Bhagchandani
    Dr Rajesh Bhagchandani, centre, a director at Apex hospital in Bhopal city, intubates a patient. He feels helpless that the hospital, which is now reserved for critically ill Covid-19 patients, cannot accommodate more people who require oxygen. Dr Rajesh Bhagchandani
  • Dr Himanshu Dewan, director of critical care at QRG hospital in Faridabad, a town near India’s capital New Delhi, says the number of deaths will climb because patients do not have access to treatment. Dr Himanshu Dewan
    Dr Himanshu Dewan, director of critical care at QRG hospital in Faridabad, a town near India’s capital New Delhi, says the number of deaths will climb because patients do not have access to treatment. Dr Himanshu Dewan
  • A health worker arranges oxygen cylinders that are being used for Covid-19 coronavirus patients at a private hospital in Allahabad. AFP
    A health worker arranges oxygen cylinders that are being used for Covid-19 coronavirus patients at a private hospital in Allahabad. AFP
  • Dr Himanshu Dewan, director of critical care at QRG hospital in Faridabad, a town near India’s capital New Delhi, is acutely aware a patient could die on the road if turned by hospitals that cannot admit more Covid-19 cases . Courtesy: Dr Himanshu Dewan
    Dr Himanshu Dewan, director of critical care at QRG hospital in Faridabad, a town near India’s capital New Delhi, is acutely aware a patient could die on the road if turned by hospitals that cannot admit more Covid-19 cases . Courtesy: Dr Himanshu Dewan
  • A man carries an empty oxygen cylinder to get it refilled at a private refilling station, for his relative who is suffering from the coronavirus disease, in New Delhi. Reuters
    A man carries an empty oxygen cylinder to get it refilled at a private refilling station, for his relative who is suffering from the coronavirus disease, in New Delhi. Reuters
  • Patients with breathing problems are seen inside an ambulance waiting to enter a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad. Reuters
    Patients with breathing problems are seen inside an ambulance waiting to enter a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad. Reuters
  • A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a woman in Amritsar. AFP
    A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a woman in Amritsar. AFP
  • An Indian police officer distributes face masks in Hyderabad. AP Photo
    An Indian police officer distributes face masks in Hyderabad. AP Photo
  • A health worker administers the Covidshield vaccine at a government hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
    A health worker administers the Covidshield vaccine at a government hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
  • People wearing masks wait to test for Covid-19 at a hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
    People wearing masks wait to test for Covid-19 at a hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
  • A health worker takes a mouth swab sample at a hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
    A health worker takes a mouth swab sample at a hospital in Hyderabad. AP Photo
  • Nuns wait to take a test for Covid-19 at a test center in Kolkata, Eastern India. EPA
    Nuns wait to take a test for Covid-19 at a test center in Kolkata, Eastern India. EPA

Asia

Saudi Arabia sends liquid oxygen to India in Covid-19 emergency

Saudi oxygen supply shipment co-ordinated with Adani and Linde groups

Mariam Nihal

April 26, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia sent 80 tonnes of liquid oxygen to help India cope with a shortage after it on Sunday reported a fifth day of record cases, logging 349,691 new coronavirus infections in one day.

Saudi Arabia’s oxygen supply shipment has been co-ordinated with India’s Adani and Linde groups.

"We are on an urgent mission to secure oxygen supplies from across the world," Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani tweeted.

"This first shipment of 4 Iso cryogenic tanks with 80 tonnes of liquid oxygen is now on its way from Dammam to Mundra.

“Indeed, actions speak louder than words."

He said the Adani Group was also securing 5,000 medical-grade oxygen cylinders from Linde Saudi Arabia.

“These too will be quickly sent to India. I am thankful to our ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, for assisting us in this regard,” Mr Adani said.

Hospitals across the country are turning away patients because of a lack of oxygen, as India continues to report the world's highest daily number of coronavirus cases and increasing deaths.

Saudi Arabia began flying oxygen tanks as India diverted oxygen supplies from industrial use to hospitals.

“Our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Health, kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for all their help, support and co-operation,” the Indian embassy in Riyadh tweeted on Saturday.

Indian residents, celebrities and social media influencers took to Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter to help arrange oxygen supplies, blood donations, plasma and other healthcare needs with the help of local residents.

Hospitals pleaded with government authorities to help arrange oxygen supplies for Covid-19 patients.

New Delhi reported 50 deaths at Jaipur Golden Hospital and Sri Ganga Ram Hospital on Friday, caused by a lack of oxygen, bringing the total number of deaths in the capital to 348 in 24 hours.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of New Delhi, said “something disastrous will happen”, as the city needs 480 tonnes of oxygen every day but only received 297 on Friday.

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