KOLKATA, April 26, 2021: Air India plans to bring around 10,000 oxygen concentrators from the US for private entities in the coming weeks, The Economic Times reported, quoting unnamed sources.

Various hospitals across the country continue to grapple with a severe shortage of medical oxygen on Sunday, even after receiving emergency supplies. Twenty people died at Delhi’s Jaipur Golden Hospital on Saturday amid a shortage of oxygen. Sources told The Economic Times that the national carrier will bring around 600 oxygen concentrators on its two US-India flights in the next two days. These oxygen concentrators have been ordered by private entities, the newspaper reported, quoting sources.

When asked about this matter, Air India spokesperson told The Economic Times that the airline is prepared to shoulder the responsibility of carrying oxygen concentrators or any consignment to India. “Obviously, Air India with its experience of international operations and wide-body fleet is fully capable of carrying a large volume of cargo consignments,” the spokesperson said.

“It goes without saying that we will continue to play a major role in transporting oxygen (equipment) and serve our nation in whatever role assigned to us,” the spokesperson told The Economic Times.

India has 26,82,751 active COVID-19 cases, according to Union health ministry data updated Sunday. The death toll rose to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 more fatalities in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed.