This story is from May 25, 2021

Two Ballari units down, Karnataka fears oxygen crisis

Karnataka on Monday warned districts and hospital networks that oxygen supply could be disrupted by up to 20% with two plants in Ballari forced to shut down following a technical snag. This has affected daily production of 220MT of oxygen at the unit since Sunday.
Two Ballari units down, Karnataka fears oxygen crisis
Image used for representational purpose only
BENGALURU: Karnataka on Monday warned districts and hospital networks that oxygen supply could be disrupted by up to 20% with two plants in Ballari forced to shut down following a technical snag. This has affected daily production of 220MT of oxygen at the unit since Sunday.
Sources said Air Water and Praxair plants in Ballari encountered the problem on Sunday, forcing emergency maintenance at the units.
Production may be restored by Wednesday. Oxygen supply nodal officer Munish Moudgil asked the districts to prepare for a reduced allocation for the next 48 hours.
Manage your oxygen usage carefully. Inform all hospitals and refillers,” the note said, asking them to use the buffer if need arose. Karnataka, which is battling a still-raging second wave of the pandemic, is trying hard to manage the oxygen supply through sporadic buying of oxygen from private players and additional allocation from the Centre. It has urged medical establishments to optimise the supply to prevent a crisis.
Though the number of fresh Covid cases in Karnataka has seen a drop when compared with the first week of May, the demand for oxygen has not reduced since most of the hospitalized patients are in need of oxygen-dependent ICUs and ventilator beds.
Health minister K Sudhakar said there was “nothing to panic” since oxygen allocation to Karnataka has gone up to 1,200 metric tonnes a day after the Centre diverted 200 MT from Maharashtra, which has seen a drop in number of fresh cases. This additional supply will help Karnataka and logistically prevent transportation issues if the state were to receive oxygen from other sources. Karnataka chief secretary P Ravi Kumar said the government had received “enough oxygen” from the Middle East (150 MT) and 114 MT from Jamnagar, refinery hub in Gujarat. Moudgil said the state was getting “special supplies” but they were largely “sporadic and not regular allotments”.
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