Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Defence and the three Services to fight the current COVID-19 crisis through video conferencing.
While expressing satisfaction on the assistance being provided by Indian Air Force (IAF) in moving oxygen tankers and plants from abroad as well as within the country, he directed the Armed Forces and various other establishments of the Defence Ministry to extend all possible assistance to the civilian administration to tide over the present situation.
Indian Navy ships have been put on standby for any assistance in moving oxygen tankers from one point to other on coastal towns.
DRDO Chairman Dr G Sathish Reddy briefed that another 250 beds would become functional at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital in New Delhi today evening, the total number of beds to 500. In Gujarat, DRDO has completed setting up a 1,000-bed hospital.
He informed that that work has been in full swing to establish a COVID facility in Lucknow that would become operational in the next 5-6 days. These hospitals would be run by AFMS in coordination and with the assistance of local state governments.
This was the second meeting chaired by Mr Rajnath Singh to review the preparedness of MoD and the Armed Forces to deal with the current surge in COVID-19 cases. The first meeting was held through video conferencing on April 20.
