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The Indian government is planning to engage the Indian Air Force (IAF) for bringing in containers and equipment from abroad, which can be used for transporting oxygen to various hospitals across the country.

Hospitals across the country are reeling under an acute dearth of oxygen, leading to death of many patients infected with the novel coronavirus.

Government sources said that although oxygen is available, difficulty in transportation is what is causing the delay in making it available to patients.

IAF personnel are already engaged in airlifting of oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicine, equipment, and medical personnel to different places within the country amidst the ongoing pandemic.

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In fact, doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag, and Bengaluru were airlifted for the setting up of a Defence Development Research Organisation (DRDO) Covid-19 makeshift hospital in Delhi.

“The air force has also airlifted oxygen containers of DRDO from Bangalore for Covid-19 centres in Delhi,” a report quoted an IAF official as saying.

Officials said these operations will continue as per the requirements.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has asked all defence organizations to provide their assistance to healthcare personnel and government agencies in tackling the Covid-19 catastrophe in the country.