https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

SAVING 250 LIVES IN PURNIA

With the only oxygen manufacturing plant of Purnia in Bihar breaking down unexpectedly, some 250 Covid19 patients in its hospital were staring at certain death. But thanks to the timely and heroic efforts of District Magistrate Rahul Kumar, this did not happen.
Indian Masterminds Stories

When the going gets tough the tough gets going. The old saying validated itself yet again on the early morning of May 12, 2021, when the nightmare started unfolding in the Purnia district of Bihar. The only oxygen manufacturing plant in the region had stopped suddenly and at stake were the lives of 250 Covid19 patients. Spread out in 13 hospitals of Purnia, they were on critical oxygen support, and 40 of them were on ventilators.

Panic Sets In

Time was running out for the patients. Every minute counted. Without fresh oxygen coming, a certain death awaited the patients. At the most, they could survive for a few hours only. These were the nerve racking moments when the district magistrate of Purnia, Mr Rahul Kumar, came to the driving seat and prevented the catastrophe, in the process saving the lives of the 250 people in dire need of oxygen.

Mr. Rahul Kumar getting an award by CM Nitish Kumar

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr Kumar recalled those horror filled moments and what all he and his team did to avert the tragedy.

Mr Kumar adopted a multi-pronged strategy: as important procuring oxygen for the Covid patients was stopping the panic which had spread uncontrollably, mainly through social media, in every nook and corner of Purnia. As a first step after getting down to business, the district magistrate set up a “war room’’ in the Sadar Hospital.

“Setting up a war room was very important,’’ said Mr Kumar, explaining further: “because it’s from here that you can work in a cool and composed manner and stop panic from setting in.’’

Working on War Footing

Mr Kumar then started working for a solution with a cool head. He immediately sent out SOS messages to his colleagues and officials in the neighboring districts, seeking urgent supply of oxygen. At the same time, he urged the local people of Purnia to hand over their unused oxygen cylinders to save the lives of the needy patients.

Mr. Kumar arranged oxygen cylinders from neighbouring district while the plant was getting repaired

Soon thereafter, help started pouring in. But it was still not sufficient to take care of all the patients. Mr Kumar then doubled his efforts. At the same time, he had another big task on his hands: to stop the spread of rumor mongering in Purnia.

Mr Rahul’s perseverance worked, and helped started pouring in from different quarters. The director of Mata Gujari Memorial Medical College in Kishanganj, Mr Dilip Jaiswal rushed the first batch of 10 cylinders and then 30 jumbo cylinders to Purnia. Supplies also started arriving from Katihar, Kishanganj and Supaul. 

First Stab at the Unseen Enemy

Through his efforts, Mr Kumar also arranged 100 more cylinders. He had made a first stab the unseen adversary. The march of death was stopped at the doorsteps of Purnia hospital, but a lot more needed to be done. After all, a civil servant also needs to be aware of the big picture.

It goes to the credit of Mr Kumar that the only oxygen manufacturing plant of Purnia, now lying malfunctioned, was put in a running condition within 8 hours!

Mr Kumar’s efforts and success in saving so many lives are being lauded by many people.

Mr. Kumar visits hospitals on a regular basis to get the status of covid patients in the district

Looking back at those hours of unimaginable tension when lives of 250 people hung by a thin thread, Mr Kumar told Indian Masterminds, “The most important thing is to identify the shape, size and level of the crisis and respond accordingly. Some hospitals had an oxygen supply for one hour, while supply in few others was only for 15 minutes. So we prioritized our response. In such situation it’s important not to lose our temper and remain cool, collected and composed. There was already so much of panic outside the control room. If we had let that panic seep in our control room, we would have been staring at disaster. But thanks to the help from DMs of bordering districts, the well meaning people of Purnia and my own team members, we stopped the disaster.’’

Mr Kumar did more than that. He showed, through his actions, how to respond properly to life threatening prospects.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Namchik Namphuk coal mine
Arunachal Pradesh’s First Commercial Coal Mine Inaugurated at Namchik Namphuk by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy
Chhattisgarh CM Sai Fisheries and Education Reforms
Chhattisgarh CM Sai Unveils Major Education and Fisheries Reforms at National Fisherfolk Conference in Raipur
Jan Aushadhi Kendras Swachhata SCDPM 5
11,100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras Designated as Key Sites in National Swachhata Drive Under SCDPM 5.0
IEDS Induction Training MSME
First-Ever Induction Training for Indian Enterprise Development Service Officers Launched at IIT Roorkee to Boost India’s MSME Sector
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
“It’s Raining Development in Bihar”: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Hails Makhana Revolution and Agri-Growth
astro-tourism Uttarakhand
From Villages to the Stars: Uttarakhand Launches India’s First State-Level Astro-Tourism Drive
INS-Androth
From Steel to Sea: SAIL Powers INS Androth with Indigenous Steel, Reinforcing India’s Maritime Self-Reliance
Bihar job creation News
Bihar on Fast Track: CM Nitish Promises 10 Million Jobs, Praises Women’s Progress and Central Support
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Namchik Namphuk coal mine
Arunachal Pradesh’s First Commercial Coal Mine Inaugurated at Namchik Namphuk by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy
Chhattisgarh CM Sai Fisheries and Education Reforms
Chhattisgarh CM Sai Unveils Major Education and Fisheries Reforms at National Fisherfolk Conference in Raipur
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT