Air India said it was airlifting 35 tonnes of zeolite mineral used in oxygen production plants on two flights from Rome to Bengaluru on Saturday.
India has been badly hit by the second wave of the novel coronavirus infection as hospitals in several states are reeling under the shortage of health workers, vaccines, oxygen and drugs.
“The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the charterer for the zeolite consignments,” Air India said in a statement.
