BAPS UK Sends Oxygen Concentrators and Emergency Medical Equipment to India on Special British Airways Relief Flight, UK & Europe

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in the UK sent 54 oxygen concentrators and various other emergency medical equipment to the front line in India on a special British Airways relief flight on Wednesday 5 May 2021.

Around 27 tonnes of equipment, including hundreds of oxygen cylinders, respirators, blood oxygen saturation monitors and care packages have been provided by the High Commission of India in London and several charities, including BAPS. This equipment was transported on a specially chartered Boeing 777-200 flight to Delhi from London Heathrow at 17:00 BST.

The medical items reached Ahmedabad on the same day of landing, Thursday 6 May 2021, while the oxygen concentrators arrived the following day, on Friday 7 May 2021, ready for deployment by frontline medical services to help save lives.

India is experiencing an unrelenting surge in infections and deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, with its hospitals coming under extreme pressure from shortages of oxygen and critical care beds.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as ‘Neasden Temple’ – launched an emergency campaign on 24 April 2021 to support the BAPS relief efforts in India. As a part of this initiative, BAPS raised over £600,000 from a ‘Cycle to Save Lives in India’ campaign – a 48-hour, non-stop static relay cycle challenge.

Captain Minesh Patel, a BAPS devotee, had been instrumental in helping to organise the flight and was commanding the service. He said: “It seemed natural to connect British Airways with BAPS, so that we can transport all the medical supplies and relief material they have collected here in the UK to the BAPS volunteers in India who are providing life-saving care and support to the pandemic victims in the worst affected regions.”

Kamlesh Patel, a lead volunteer for BAPS in the UK, added, “We are extremely grateful to our friends at British Airways for organising this relief flight to India. Through the fundraising efforts at Neasden Temple, we were able to send essential medical supplies on this consignment, including 54 oxygen concentrators. Our deepest gratitude goes to all those who have contributed to this relief effort and we continue to pray for our friends and families in India during this challenging time.”

This latest consignment of oxygen concentrators from the UK joins an international effort which has seen similar equipment being donated by BAPS devotees and supporters from the UAE and BAPS Charities in Kenya and Uganda.

There are still opportunities to support the campaign. Donations can be made by visiting Neasden Temple’s donation page here or the JustGiving website here, or by emailing [email protected].

The latest news and updates about the ongoing work of BAPS in the UK and the international Covid relief efforts for India can be found by following @neasdentemple on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.