India Coronavirus Dispatch: MP races against time to plug oxygen supply gap

Record rise in Kerala Covid tally, 11% of doctors dying are from Bengal, daily new cases drop in Maharashtra--news on how the country is dealing with the pandemic

Oxygen supply race: On September 17, MP government directed 11 Air Suppressing Unit (ASU) owners to increase capacity and supply 90 per cent of their oxygen to hospitals. The state has seen a huge surge in demand for medical grade oxygen, from 50 tonnes in February to 130 tonnes in September. The state has no in-house production of liquified oxygen and much of its medical and industrial needs are met from neighbouring states, primarily Maharashtra. MP’s problems were compounded when Maharashtra decided to not supply oxygen outside the state after witnessing a surge in cases. Meanwhile, industrial units say the