Hearing a hospital’s petition over shortage of oxygen for seriously-ill COVID-19 patients, the Delhi High Court on Saturday said if anyone obstructs oxygen supply, “we will not spare them”. The system will “collapse” if the capital doesn’t get 480 metric tonnes of oxygen, the Delhi government told the court. Several hospitals have already flagged the worrying shortage of medical oxygen as they are overwhelmed by the thousands of new daily cases. Big and small, several hospitals in the national capital have raised the issue in the past three days with the high court. The government also added that it received only 297 metric tonnes of the medical gas on Friday. The state government also sought a detailed affidavit from the Centre with clear details of oxygen allocation and supply schedule.

Hearing the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital’s petition, the court asked the centre: “When will Delhi get 480 metric tonnes? Please tell us that.” The Centre, in Saturday’s hearing, had earlier put the blame back on the AAP government.