Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to collaborate with technical institutes, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, to explore the possibility of converting nitrogen into oxygen. Currently, several states in India are witnessing a shortage of medical oxygen amid the second wave of coronavirus.

Also read: ‘Nitrogen, aaj se tumhara naam oxygen’: Yogi Adityanath’s directive sparks meme fest

Sharing a snippet of a newspaper, the official account of the chief minister’s office tweeted in Hindi, “We also need to explore new options for medical oxygen: UP CM Mr@myogiadityanath.”

The Adityanath-led BJP government is supplying 630 tons of oxygen to the state hospitals, sourcing the lifesaving gas from Gujarat, West Bengal and Odisha, according to a TOI report.

The chief minister also instructed officials to ensure all government and private hospitals start setting up oxygen plants within the next six months if they don’t already have one.

Also read: ‘Oxygen on Wheels’: Anand Mahindra launches initiative to transport oxygen

On Tuesday, he directed officials to make teleconsultation arrangements for COVID and non-COVID patients in every district of the state.

Uttar Pradesh, one of the worst-hit states by the pandemic, on Friday reported 30,137 new COVID cases and 303 more deaths due to the virus, the health department said.