By Chhetu Sherpa, Kathmandu, May. 13: The government has distributed a total of 17,341 oxygen cylinders to various hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley in the past three days.

Narhari Khatiwada, joint-secretary at the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) said that following the increasing demands of oxygen, the cylinders were distributed to COVID-19 hospitals.  

"Some 3,411 cylinders were distributed to 77 hospitals on May 10, 6,457 cylinders were distributed to 112 hospitals on May 11 and 7,473 cylinders were provided to 111 hospitals on May 12," said Khatiwada.

Even though the oxygen cylinders were being distributed from the Ministry of Health and Population, the CCMC Secretariat has taken over the responsibility to hand out the cylinders in the Kathmandu Valley to avoid the shortage of oxygen.

Moreover, the CCMC informed that all the empty cylinders found during the market inspection, which was carried out with the help of Nepal Police, were also provided to the hospitals for the treatment of the virus-infected patients.

The Council of Ministers has already decided to procure 50,000 oxygen cylinders from abroad. Also, of the 20,000 cylinders that are to be provided by China under grant assistance, 400 have already arrived in Nepal.