The Government has issued orders to divert the supply of oxygen meant for industries to hospitals in the country to treat the surging number of patients down with COVID-19 infections.

The government's move is aimed at plugging the oxygen gap in the country, particularly in the high-burden states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, according to the letter issued by the Home Secretary's office to all the chief secretaries of states.

Industries that are exempt from the order include Ampoules & Vials, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum refineries, Steel plants, Nuclear energy facilities, Oxygen cylinder manufacturers, Wastewater treatment plants, Food & water purification, Process industries which require uninterrupted operation of furnaces, processes, etc as approved by respective State governments.

To ensure the quick movement of oxygen to hospitals, the Railways will also run ''Oxygen Express'' over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country. A Green Corridor is being created for the fast movement of these trains.

The Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments had earlier approached the Railways Ministry to explore whether liquid medical oxygen tankers could be moved by the rail network.

Amid a manifold hike in the demand, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has conveyed that this has already reached about "60 per cent of the total daily oxygen production", and is expected to rise further.

India reported a record daily increase of infections on Sunday with 2, 61,500 new cases.