Indian Railways to run ‘Oxygen Express’ as COVID-19 cases surge

The Indian Railways has announced an ‘Oxygen Express’ to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across India. The announcement came amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, and reports from several states of oxygen shortage.

Empty tankers will begin their journey from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai on Monday to load liquid medical oxygen from Vizag, Jamshedpur, Rourkela and Bokaro, officials said.

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“Roll-on-Roll-off oxygen trucks getting loaded for Oxygen Express. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Government of India is committed to doing everything possible to help COVID-19 patients,” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.

Earlier, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh had approached the Railways Ministry to ask if liquid oxygen cylinders could be moved by the medical network.

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India on Saturday recorded 2,61,500 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic began. India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases stands at 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll increased to 1,77,150 with a record 1,501 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.