KATHMANDU: A total of 1,441 oxygen-filled cylinders and 3,991 empty ones have been confiscated from various places of the country at the initiatives of the Nepal Police, said the Nepal Polie Headquarters.

The collection of oxygen cylinders is a part of the drive to confiscate oxygen cylinders stored by hospitals more than their requirement and by individuals and organizations used for other purposes than in Covid-19 treatment amid a crisis of oxygen during the second wave of the infection.

Of the total 5,432 (both filled and empty ones), altogether 4,589 have been distributed to Covid-19 hospitals and concerned oxygen plant industries.

The remaining 843 cylinders would be kept at the district crisis management center and the district police offices to distribute as per the need in the coming days, said Senior Superintendent of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar.

Investigations into the confiscated oxygen cylinders were underway, he said.