SAIL supports the nation in worst health crisis, became biggest producers & suppliers of LMO in the country

New Delhi: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is the largest Maharatna steel-making public sector company and is one of the foremost in rendering its services towards society. When the country faced one of the worst health crises during the recent second wave of Covid-19, there was a severe shortage of medical oxygen and oxygenated beds for Covid-19 treatment. The steel industry emerged as one of the biggest producers and suppliers of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in the country during that time. Responding with promptitude, SAIL put the LMO production in its topmost priority and mobilised resources towards maximizing the production of LMO at its five integrated steel plants at Bhilai (Chattisgarh), Bokaro (Jharkhand), Rourkela (Odisha), Durgapur, and Burnpur (West Bengal).

 

It is rightly said, necessity is the mother of all inventions. At the time when the country was fiercely struggling to cope up with the medical oxygen shortage, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for setting up covid treatment centres near the production units of the LMO so that the transportation and logistics requirements could be minimized. SAIL, responding instantly, announced setting up JUMBO MEDICAL FACILITIES with 2500 additional beds with support of direct supply of gaseous oxygen (GOX) through a dedicated pipeline from the plants for Covid treatment already functional medical facilities available at SAIL’s five integrated steel plants. Working on a war footing, the company in the first phase set up 700 additional beds at four of its integrated plant locations in Burnpur, Durgapur, Rourkela, and Bhilai. The first Covid care unit with gaseous oxygen equipped 200 beds was set up in a school near to the plant and was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation on 19.05.2021 at SAIL’s IISCO Steel Plant, located at Burnpur.

 

Subsequently, 200 bedded Covid care facilities were put in place at SAIL’s Durgapur Steel Plant and inaugurated on 31.05.2021. A 100 bedded 'Ispat Nidan Kendra' was inaugurated at SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant on 02.06.2021 and 114 bedded covid care facility was set up at SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant on 10.06.2021. These remarkable efforts and initiatives of SAIL to rise to the occasion in providing support and succour during the challenging period have received appreciation from all corners.

 

The company remains committed to stand by the nation in fighting against the corona pandemic in every possible way. Though the severity seen during the second wave have diminished, the possibility of subsequent waves are not ruled out by various expert agencies and authorities. In light of the unseen situation, these covid care units offer an assuring and helping hand in dealing with exigencies.

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