Deficit supply of oxygen to Delhi - where 12 people died Saturday and 25 last week, because of a shortfall triggered by the second wave of coronavirus cases - must be rectified on or before midnight of May 3, the Supreme Court has told the centre.
The top court also directed the centre to work with state governments to create a buffer stock of oxygen to be used for emergency purposes, and decentralise locations of these reserves.
The directions on oxygen supply - a detailed 64-page order passed by Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, after their hearing on Friday - came as Delhi hospitals, including the Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, continue to send out frantic SOSs.
India is witnessing a frightening surge in dalily Covid cases with a large parts of the country getting affected by a devastating second Covid wave.
With 4.01 lakh cases recorded on Saturday, India hit a new grim world record; 2,15,542 people have died so far. Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit state followed by Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
