India Bans Oxygen to Most Industries to Meet Hospitals’ Demand

India has barred the supply of oxygen to many industries to meet rising demand from hospitals which are under pressure from a surge in coronavirus infections in the country. Clinical demand for the gas has increased to 60% of India’s production and is expected to rise further, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late Sunday. The nation reported a record 273,810 new infections on Monday.
Maharashtra -- the epicenter of the new wave of infections in India -- has requested authorities to airlift oxygen cylinders into the state. Industries that create oxygen as a byproduct have been bottling the gas for hospitals, and Indian Railways is running special tankers across key corridors to transport it.