By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, May. 19:  Despite all the aids and the supplies, the Kathmandu Valley is still struggling to meet the oxygen demand from the hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

Currently, 6260 cylinders are being supplied by the nine industries in the whole of the Kathmandu Valley. The supply stands at 6500-7500 cylinders per day. If the situation further worsens, then this will further exhaust the already tough situation.

According to Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, the new variant records infection rate in all age group.  As a result, many will need hospital resources or hospitalization, thus will cripple the already existing grim situation of shortage of oxygen and cylinders.

Paudel informed that there are a total of 28 oxygen plants in the country. Aid of liquid oxygen by India and cylinders by China, has relaxed the dire situation. However, the new variant is likely exhaust the hospital resources of the valley.

According to Gaurav Sharda, President of the Nepal Oxygen Gas Association, the industries have been delivering their oxygen for the medical purposes following the directives of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

Sharda, said, “The demand for the oxygen far exceeds the supply. There is a production of 6,500- 7,500 oxygen cylinders in the Kathmandu Valley. Each cylinder holds 8.6 cubic meter oxygen.”

He further said that the distribution systems play a major obstacle for the smooth running of the supply.

 “Every day, hospitals facing the shortage of oxygen call us to increase the supply. But, we abide by the list assigned by the MoHP for the supply quota,” added Shrada.