Kasaragod initiate oxygen-cylinder challenge

District panchayat president Baby Balakrishnan said the challenge was suggested considering the growing requirement of oxygen cylinders in the hospitals.

The Kasaragod district which is facing an acute oxygen cylinder shortage owing to a surge in the cases is encouraging industries, small institutions and companies to step forward and provide D-type cylinders (7,000 liter capacity) with them by initiating an ‘Oxygen cylinder challenge’. District panchayat president Baby Balakrishnan said that the challenge was suggested in the District Disaster Management Authority meeting considering the growing requirement of oxygen cylinders in the hospitals. There is a requirement of over 370 oxygen cylinders to mitigate the current crisis, but there are not enough cylinders to refill the oxygen. If there are enough cylinders they can keep it as a buffer stock to meet the growing demand, she told The Hindu.