Inspired by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and coordinated by Brahmavihari Swami and a team of donors and volunteers of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the second shipment of liquid oxygen has been supplied to hospitals in Rajkot and Bhuj to help easethe oxygen shortage facing the country.
With the generous support of donors in the UAE, two cryogenic tanks with a total of 44 metric tons (MT) of liquid oxygen (LOX) were dispatched from Abu Dhabi on 1 June and reached Mundra Port in Gujarat, India, on 3 June. From there, the special vacuum insulated tanks were taken by road to their supply destinations. Each custom-conditioned tank safely carries liquid oxygen at -185°C (-300°F) in accordance with international safety standards. Each tank provides sufficient oxygen to fill over 5,000 cylinders that will help to save many lives.
This shipment is the second of many shipments due to arrive in India as part of a massive supply chain arranged by BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, that will provide 440 MT of liquid oxygen to India on a monthly basis. The first shipment of two tankers had provided Liquid Oxygen to hospitals in Morbi, Jamnagar, Patan, Palanpur and Ahmedabad.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi is working closely and on a real-time basis with the Government of India and the State Government of Gujarat to identify locations to provide this oxygen free of charge.
On 4 June, one 22 MT Liquid Oxygen tanker was donated at G.K. General Hospital in Bhuj.
In Bhuj at the G.K. General Hospital, the LOX tank was greeted by dignitaries and officials, including MLA of Bhuj Shrimati Neemaben Acharya, Additional Collector of Kutch Shri Kuldeepsinh Jhala, Dean of G.K. General Hospital Dr. A.N. Ghosh, President of Kutch District Panchayat Shrimati Parulben Kara and Head of Bhuj Municipal Corporation Shri Ghanshyambhai Thakkar.
Vivekmangal Swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj,and the dignitaries performed pujan of the tank. The dignitaries present expressed their gratitude to BAPS and the donors for the timely donation of oxygen.
MLA of Bhuj, Shrimati Neemaben Acharya: “Today is a day of happiness for all of us in this remote area of Bhuj. Today we have received 22 MT of liquid oxygen from BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. It seems as if God himself has gifted us today with this blessing of air to breathe. I want to thank BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi and its donors for worrying about us and extending this timely support. Since many days now the oxygen situation in Bhuj has been critical and I am sure this oxygen donation will go a long way in alleviating these issues. BAPS has helped Kutch in the times of the earthquake in 2001 and they have again proved as the saviors for the people here.”
Additional Collector of Kutch, Shri Kuldeepsinh Jhala: “Today I am happy to say that today we have received 22 MT of liquid oxygen from BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. BAPS has always been at the forefront of relief work and has always worked with the administration. We all know the crisis we faced with respect to oxygen supply in the second wave of Covid. As we prepare for a potential third wave, this oxygen will go a long way in ensuring our readiness. On behalf of the people of Kutch, I express my gratitude to BAPS and its donors.”
Dean of G.K. General Hospital, Dr. A.N. Ghosh: “Our hospital is a Covid dedicated hospital and since the beginning of the pandemic we have treated patients free of cost here. We have 750 covid patients here. As we know, oxygen is a very critical requirement and being in this remote region of Kutch, we have been worried as management about procuring oxygen for our patients. I would like to thank BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and the people of UAE for helping us in this critical time by supplying 22 MT of liquid oxygen.”
President of Kutch District Panchayat, Shrimati Parulben Kara: “BAPS has always been at the forefront in helping the country in times of any natural calamity. BAPS has been donating oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders in these Covid times. Today, this tanker of liquid oxygen donated by BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi will help us to provide critical oxygen to patients at the G.K. General Hospital. I am deeply thankful to BAPS and its volunteers for their selfless service.”
Head of Bhuj Municipal Corporation, Shri Ghanshyambhai Thakkar: “As the head of Bhuj Municipal Corporation, I would like to bow down my head and thank BAPS for donating 22 MT of liquid oxygen to the people of Bhuj. I have seen BAPS do relief work for months together during the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat through providing homes, food, etc. to the people of Bhuj. It is my honor to be present today to witness this relief work today as BAPS continues to serve the people.”