Armed forces roped in to tackle soaring COVID cases across the country

* Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews scene with top Defence officials

NEW DELHI: The Central government has roped in its armed forces to tackle soaring COVID-19 cases across the country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday afternoon, also reviewed the preparedness of Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces amid spike in COVID-19 cases across the country via a virtual meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. Present during the meeting via video conferencing were Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Surg Vice Admiral Rajat Datta, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Raj Kumar, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr G Satheesh Reddy and other senior civil and military officers.

The Defence Minister was briefed about the measures taken by AFMS, DRDO, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and other departments of Ministry of Defence such as National Cadet Corps (NCC) in providing aid to the civil administration in this hour of crisis.

Defence Minister Singh urged the DPSUs, OFB and DRDO to work on war footing to provide oxygen cylinders and extra beds to civil administration/state governments at the earliest. He called upon the Armed Forces to be in close contact with the State governments and be ready to provide any required assistance. The Defence Minister also delegated the emergency powers of procurement so that critical needs are procured.

DRDO Chairman Dr Reddy informed the Defence Minister that the organisation has decided to increase the capacity of its already started 250-bedded facility in Delhi to 500. The facility started to take patients on Monday; and on the first day, all the 250 beds were occupied. All the beds are equipped with oxygen and a large number of ventilators are also available. The facility will be free of cost and will have testing and air-conditioning as per WHO standards.

The DRDO had wound up its 1,000-bedded facility to treat COVID patients in February; but, the surging numbers has prompted them to reopen it with 500 beds. The DRDO is also setting up two hospitals in Lucknow — that has become a hotbed of COVID cases. The official also said that the hospitals being set up by the DRDO may not be enough considering the surge, so all possible help in military medical facilities is being planned.

Dr Reddy further informed the Defence Minister that based on the 'On-Board Oxygen Generation Technology' developed for LCA Tejas, a 1000 litre/minute capacity oxygen generation plants technology has been given to the industry, and the Uttar Pradesh government has placed order of five such plants with the industry.

Dr Reddy also added that more plants can be supplied by the industry to cater to the hospital requirements. He further said SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) based supplemental oxygen delivery system developed for soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas can be used for COVID patients as their conditions become similar. The product, he said, will be available soon in the market from the industry as per technology provided by DRDO.

The Defence Minister also suggested that the services of vaccinated retired Armed Forces personnel be utilised to assist the civil administration/State governments to deal with the current situation.

On Monday, Singh had urged the forces to be on a war footing in the fight against COVID, by providing all medical help to the affected people. He also directed the Army to open up medical facilities for the local people and the forces' top commanders to get in touch with the Chief Ministers.

The States unable to control the COVID-19 situation were looking upon the Central government for help.

A senior Defence Ministry official said that the Defence Minister spoke to the Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, and asked him to instruct commanders in State capitals to reach out to the Chief Ministers and provide all-possible assistance. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar was also part of the discussions on Monday evening. It was decided that the hospitals run by Cantonment Boards across the country will also be made open to civilians living in the areas and also coming from outside the cantonment zones.

The Defence Minister said that all efforts should be made to ensure maximum assistance to the affected people as the defence establishment has the best medical facilities. (PIB & IANS)

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