IAF airlifts four cryogenic tanks from Singapore for transportation of medical oxygen in India

New Delhi, April 24: A C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force ( IAF ) has reached Changi airport Singapore on Saturday (24 April) morning to transport four cryogenic tanks to India by Saturday evening. It will be reaching the Panagarh airbase by Saturday evening in order to cater to the rising demand for medical oxygen for Covid-19 treatment.

 

 

"We stand with India in its fight against Covid-19. Through a bilateral and multi-agency effort, an @IAF_MCC transport plane picked up 4 cryogenic oxygen containers at @ChangiAirport in Singapore this morning," the Singapore's diplomatic missions in New Delhi said in a tweet.

 

 

"IAF has deployed its C-17 which was airborne from the Hindan Air Base for Changi International Airport, Singapore today at 2 AM. The aircraft arrived at Singapore at 07:45 am. After loading four containers of cryogenic oxygen tanks, it will depart Singapore and land at Panagarh Air Base in West Bengal and offload these containers by this evening," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

 

 

As the country is grappling with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, aggravated by oxygen shortage, the Indian Air Force has come forward with its resources to airlift "medical personnel, critical equipment and medicines". Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday reviewed the defence ministry's effort to deal with the present pandemic situation in the country.

 

 

Apart from Singapore, the Centre is also looking at lifting oxygen tankers from the UAE. Apart from airlifting oxygen from abroad, IAF is ferrying tanks from one state to another. It is airlifting empty oxygen containers in Maharashtra to filling stations.

 

A C-17 was airborne from Hindan air base for Pune Airbase today. "The jet is being loaded with empty container trucks for Liquid Medical Oxygen. The aircraft will depart Pune and offload these containers at Jamnagar Air Base by 1:30 pm today," the Ministry added.