First Time In India: Telangana Airlifts Tankers For Oxygen

In a first of its kind in the country, Telangana state government has deployed Indian Air Force (IAF) aircrafts in order to airlift the empty oxygen tankers from Hyderabad to Odisha. Since the oxygen plants at Angul and Rourkela are about 1200 km away from Hyderabad, the Telangana state government has decided to airlift the empty tankers to save the time. This is amidst oxygen deficit and its growing demand for Covid-19 patients.

As many as nine empty tankers have been airlifted on Friday from Hyderabad to Odisha. They are sent to Odisha plants to procure liquid oxygen for the state. As soon as they are refilled, the tankers would reach Hyderabad by road. Thus, it would save a lot of time and bring back oxygen faster. It is said that 3 days would be saved by this act. Two C17 aircrafts of the IAF have been used for this mission.

Health Minister Eatala Rajender and Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar monitored the operation at the old airport at Begumpet. Municipal Administration & Urban Development Minister KTR, who earliest tested Covid positive with mild symptoms, lauded the efforts of Health Minister Eatala and CS Somesh Kumar.