PATNA: In a unique initiative, the Bihar Pradesh Marawari (Bihar Regional Marwari Conference) has started an Oxygen Cylinder Bank (OCB) in Patna to provide free oxygen cylinders to home quarantined Covid-19 patients.
The OCB is functioning at Patna’s Dak Bungalow on all working days.
Speaking to this newspaper, regional president of Bihar Marwari Sammelan, Vindo Todi said: “A person in need of an oxygen cylinder for the Covid-19 patient
at home isolation can avail the service from this bank after depositing an amount of Rs 5,000 with a copy of Aadhaar card”.
The security money deposited at the OCB is refundable at the time the cylinders are returned.
Todi said: “Only a little amounts are deducted from the security money in case the gas metre or pipe of the cylinder is found damaged. Otherwise, the service is totally free to Covid-19 patients”.
He said that an order for 30 new oxygen cylinders has been placed in addition to the present strength of 21 cylinders.
This bank is only meant for the corona-infected patients, Todi further said, adding that OCB service may be considered in other places of the state on a later stage.
Each cylinder carries 100 kg of oxygen and can give a patient respiratory support for 6 to 8 days.