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After the Indian Air Force, it is the turn of the Indian Navy to lend a helping hand in express distribution of oxygen for treatment of COVID 19 patients. On Sunday Indian Navy ships under the southern naval command at Kochi set sail to deliver oxygen to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, said a statement from the ministry of defence. The distance between Kochi and Lakshadweep is about 500 kms.

There are around 1,200 COVID cases in Lakshadweep. The population of the island is 64,429 according to the 2011 census.

The consignment with which INS Sharda left Kochi included 35 oxygen cylinders, rapid antigen detection test (RADT) kits, PPE kits and other items to fight the pandemic.

The ship also distributed supplies that included oxygen cylinders for the island of Minicoy.

Another vessel brought back 41 empty oxygen cylinders from the islands to Kochi for refilling. Once refilled, the cylinders would be taken back to the islands.

To help the administration in fighting the pandemic in the island of Kadmat, a naval contingent comprising a doctor and two medical assistants was transported to Kadmat on Sunday.

According to the ministry of defence 10 beds including ICU facilities for patients from Lakshadweep were kept ready in Kochi to supplement beds in the island. The naval air station INS Garuda has also been placed on alert to extend Naval airfield facilities for UTL helicopters ferrying patients.

Last week as the shortage of oxygen in hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and other parts of the country reached critical levels, Indian Air Force began helping in transporting oxygen from different parts of the country to the areas hit by shortage.