Empowered panel asks Centre to ensure backup plan for oxygen in wake of expected surge

Facing the twin challenge of a crumbling health infrastructure and also mutating viruses, including the double mutant variant, the government says the Covid surge is exponential. Its internal assessment also points to the direction that cases will peak by the middle of May. By April 30, Uttar Pradesh is expected to report 1.19 lakh cases and Maharashtra over 99,000 cases daily.

Amidst the expected surge, Empowered Group of Officers under Niti Aayog Member Dr V K Paul have asked the Centre to ensure backup plan for oxygen and to expedite oxygen supply to the states.