It’s not a wave, it’s a tsunami: Delhi HC on surging COVID-19 cases

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court, which has been hearing a slew of matters this week including oxygen scarcity at various city hospitals, on Saturday described the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country as a tsunami.

Commenting on the ongoing second coronavirus wave in the country, a high court bench observed: “We're calling it a wave, it's actually a tsunami.”

The court then asked the Central government whether it is prepared to deal with the second COVID-19 wave peak that is expected in May.

The court reminded the Central as well as Delhi governments that they needed to make efforts to reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate.

Further, taking up the matter of scarcity of oxygen in the national capital, the high court asked the Centre as to when will 480 metric tonnes of oxygen allocated to Delhi “will see the light of day?”.

“You had assured us on April 21 that 480 metric tonnes of oxygen per day will come,” the bench pointed out.

The officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the court that due to a high number of cases across the country, there is a shortage of oxygen tankers.

State governments are working very hard and Delhi and the Centre have to work together, the official is reported to have told the court.

“Four cryogenic tanks, to be used for transportation of oxygen in India, are being airlifted from Singapore,” the MHA informed the court.

The Government of NCT should make all possible efforts for procuring cryogenic tankers. We expect officers of both governments to coordinate in this regard, the court then said. The court also directed suppliers and re-fillers to provide information about oxygen supplied to Delhi hospitals, stating that there has to be transparency.

The court also asked the Delhi government what steps it was planning to take to augment the medical infrastructure to deal with the peak of the current COVID wave.

The court further recommended that security be provided to hospitals if required, pointing out that "we know how people react when they lose their dear ones... let's not have a law and order situation."

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court had warned if it was found that any official at the central, state or local administration was trying to obstruct the picking up or supply of oxygen, then "we will hang that man".

"We will not spare anyone," the bench said.