‘Oxygen Tankers Kept Roaming In Delhi...': Govt Pulls Up Oppn Over Politics On Oxygen Shortage

Mandaviya said the Centre wrote to 19 states asking for data on deaths due to oxygen during second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (LSTV/PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Stating that a lot of politics happened regarding oxygen shortage during second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said the oxygen tankers were roaming on the streets of the national capital but there was no place to empty them.

He said that Prime Minister Modi repeatedly in his meetings with the Chief Ministers asked them to give the data on deaths due to Covid-19.

Mandaviya said the Centre wrote to 19 states asking for data on deaths due to oxygen during second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We had written to all states asking for data on it. 19 states responded to the Centre on the data of deaths due to oxygen,” he said in the Lok Sabha responding to the question on ‘deaths due to oxygen shortage’.

Mandaviya said only Punjab reported of four suspected deaths due to oxygen which is being investigated.

The Opposition, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), sought to know the ruling dispensation’s stand on booster doses for coronavirus and usage of money from the PM-CARES funds.

Mandaviya’s remarks came as the Omicron coronavirus variant has sparked fresh fears around the world.

Meanwhile, India has crossed yet another milestone in the Covid-19 vaccination drive with the total vaccination crossing the 126-crore mark.

The Union Health Ministry has termed it as yet another achievement in its fight against Covid-19.

India’s active caseload presently stands at 99,976.

“Active cases constitute 0.29% of the country's total positive cases, which is lowest since March 2020,” the Union Health Ministry said in a release.

The Health Ministry further said India’s recovery rate stands at 98.35%.

“Active cases constitute 0.29% of the country's total positive cases, which is lowest since March 2020,” the Union Health Ministry said in a release.

The Health Ministry further said India’s recovery rate stands at 98.35%.