India's COVID crisis: Bhutan to supply oxygen, Bhutanese show solidarity

Even as the COVID crisis is creating havoc in India, Bhutan will supply 40 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen to Assam. The oxygen will be exported using cryogenic tankers and will come from a new plant at the Motanga Industrial Estate in Eastern Bhutan's Samdrup Jongkhar district. 

A release from the Indian Mission in Bhutan said, "The provision of oxygen by Bhutan will augment India’s efforts to win the fight against COVID-19 and save precious lives" and "this is a practical manifestation of the uniquely close and friendly ties between India and Bhutan."

The plant has been set up by a Bhutanese company S.D. Cryogenics Gases Pvt Ltd. The plant has a domestic investment of 51% by Bhutan's Cryogenics Gases and FDI component of 49% by Assam-based Indian company Meghalaya Oxygen Pvt Ltd.

Meanwhile, a strong show of support has been seen by the people of Bhutan for India amid the covid crisis. Many Bhutanese took to Twitter showing solidarity with India. Dechen Namgyal, a Bhutanese medical student tweeted, "This is what Bhutan can do as a friend", Bhutan sending Oxygen to India.

This is what Bhutan can do as a friend.#India https://t.co/O86fuB5MvS

— Dechen Namgyal (@DechenNamgyal6) April 27, 2021

Namgay, a multimedia journalist in Bhutan tweeted, "My thoughts & prayers are with India, every day".

Tenzing Lamsang, Editor of The Bhutanese Newspaper recalling his student days in Delhi tweeted said, "I am so so sorry for what is happening to some of the warmest & most generous people on earth."

My entire education has been in India including 3 yrs of college in DU & 2 years of work as a journalist in Delhi.

I am so so sorry for what is happening to some of the warmest & most generous people on earth. They don’t deserve this.

My prayers that you all come through this.

— Tenzing Lamsang (@TenzingLamsang) April 26, 2021

A board at a coffee shop in Bhutan had written, "can we just take a moment today and pray for India".

#india pic.twitter.com/Ct98siJXak

— CoffeeCat (@_CoffeeCat__) April 27, 2021

India has reported over 3 lakh COVID cases consecutively for the last few days, as the caseload continues to surge. New Delhi, via its mission, has been trying to get oxygen globally and has got the first consignment from Saudi Arabia. The country so far has also been able to bring Oxygen containers from Singapore, UAE, and Thailand.