Bengal’s largest oxygen plant was opened on Monday at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Susrutanagar, on the outskirts of Siliguri.

The second wave of Covid-19 led to an urgent demand for a state-of-the-art oxygen plant at the NBMCH. Funds were allocated by the Centre for a pressure swing absorption (PSA) plant in July this year, with the involvement of the National Highways Authority of India and Defence Research & Development Organisation in its setting up.

“This plant has a capacity to generate 2,000 LPM (litres per minute) of oxygen. As of now, there is no other government or private hospital in the state that has a plant of this capacity,” said a source in the NBMCH. Sushanta Roy, officer on special duty deputed by the state health department in north Bengal, said this plant will ensure piped medical oxygen supply to patients.