As the Coronavirus outbreak spreads to more countries, so does solidarity among people everywhere. Amid restrictions on interstate movements, however, acts of kindness and solidarity are burgeoning.
Recently we witnessed such an incident in Bidar district, where the coordination between district administration and timely assistance of Dr. Vipin Itankar, District collector of Nanded, Maharashtra have saved the lives of 438 Covid patients.
Speaking to News Karnataka, Deputy Commissioner of Bidar Ramachandran R said, “On May 10, a diesel tanker got stuck down near Bijapur, which had oxygen cylinders. There were nearly 400 Covid patients in BRIMS (Bidar Institution of Medical Science) who needed oxygen. As soon I got this information, I called all my neighbourhoos DCs. I called Nanded DC around 6:15 am in the morning and he immediately responded and permitted the gasoline agencies of Nanded to provide oxygen to the neighboring state.
“DC Vipin shared the contact numbers of Vineeth Barthiya of Satya Kamal agency (Nana gas agency) and, Guru oxygen refilling agency and also directed them to provide oxygen cylinders to us. At the time DC’s permission was required even for the private oxygen refilling agencies to supply oxygens to the other districts, as within the district demand for medical oxygen was very huge,” said DC Ramachandran.
Expressing gratitude DC Ramachandran said “DC Vipin Itankar sent 90 oxygen cylinder immediately to us, which helped us save as many as 438 lives. Amid pandemic where we have closed borders and restricted movements within states and districts, to save lives of Covid patients the neighbouring state DC extended timely help despite lockdown restrictions,” he added.
