The lack of oxygen is causing chaos at hospitals in the Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara stretch with over 2,000 COVID-19 patients needing immediate support. The workload of suppliers has also increased as they have to cover longer distances to deliver cylinders.

Doctors attached to COVID hospitals said they are forced to reduce the supply to hospitalised patients so it can be saved for emergencies. "Because of the shortage, the flow of oxygen has been reduced per patient from optimum level to sub-optimum level. The cut-off saturation of Saturation at Periphery of Oxygen, that is SPO2, should be around 95 per cent. Hospitals have brought it down to 90 per cent to maintain supply for all patients," a doctor said, adding, "This has affected recovery but we are helpless as we also need to have a healthy oxygen bank for emergencies."