Lucknow: Scores of people were lined up outside an oxygen plant at Talkatora in a hope to refill oxygen cylinders to provide assistance to their gasping family members or friends.
Ambrish Mohanty, a resident of Balaganj said, “ I’ve been standing here for the past eight hours to get the cylinder refilled and take it to the hospital at Khurramnagar where my wife is admitted. The hospital staff is co-operative but has asked us to arrange oxygen for the patient as the hospital will soon be running out of oxygen. It is very difficult today to arrange an oxygen cylinder. I never thought that this will happen to me and my family, these are the most devastating times we are facing.”
Akhil Kumar resident Charbagh said, “’ I have come here to get an oxygen cylinder refilled for one of my friend’s father who is Covid-19 positive and and is in a critical stage, admitted at a hospital located on Kursi Road. I’m worried for him as he is quite old and is in a critical stage. We are now being told by the oxygen plant employees that we will have to wait for another four hours to get the oxygen, we have already waited to four hours. This is pure mismanagement of the system which might cost my friend’s father his life”.
Arsalan Abbasi resident Thakurganj said, “ I had my relative who’s Covid-19 positive admitted in Impulse Hospital, Balaganj, but the hospital administration discharged him ten days back due to non availability of oxygen. Since then, he has been at home on oxygen support. I’ve got two oxygen cylinders one of a Jumbo size, and one of small size which I’ve bought for Rs 12,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. I’ve been standing here in the queue for the last six hours but I’ve lost all hope as of now. I appeal to the administration to ensure a smooth and fair process of oxygen distribution, so that individuals like me have to face less hurdles in getting one”.
