“Fearless they stand, botherless are the

What worry them the most, is all lives that they pray....

In situations of advantage, mercy they earn,

And that is what we all have to learn…

Unpredictable is life, and stepping out is a risk,

May lord bless them all, that’s just we wish.”

                                           (Swastika Sruti)

As seeing people help others out, amidst all the chaos around that has turned everything seemingly fatal one such things as helping others out is what gives the most joy. India’s second wave of COVID-19 is causing unprecedented devastation. The scenario is dreadful as with the surge in cases, it is being difficult to manage all at the same time. The medical is facing a tough challenge in befitting all.

Well amid the chaos of life, there are few unknown names that are working day and night in trying their best in serving the neediest. Amongst them, one name is Rajiv Sardana and Archana Sardana. This family in Greater Noida has come under words of discussion since they started delivering free oxygen arriving at the door-to-door facility.

Rajiv Sardana, an Indian Navy veteran, and his scuba instructor wife have converted their Maruti Suzuki Eeco van into a small oxygen tanker holding 3 jumbo cylinders with a total capacity of over 20,000 liters of oxygen.

Started from 24 April Cdr Sardana and his wife now do house calls across the National Capital Region for those who need oxygen, a service they render free-of-cost.

Team Nyoooz had an interview session with Rajiv Sardana and here is what we have come out with knowing their idea. 

Q.  Apart from the vivid challenges the nation is facing, you and your family are like a torch in the dark, the situation is so worse that people cross by seeing the victim but don`t initiate help because Covid has scared all of us. Despite all things... You and your family are helping in supplying oxygen... From where does this will come from?

A. The willingness to serve in a war-like scenario comes from the fact that I am the son of an Army Officer, elder brother of an Army Officer and myself served in the Indian Navy. The sense of patriotism has leveled us up in reaching out to the victims of Covid. We have turned our Maruti van from a small to an oxygen tanker which can hold up to 3 jumbo cylinders of Oxygen.

Q. Supporting this answer the follow-up question is that stepping outside is dangerous and unsafe and your job is a risk to yourself, so how do you manage in sanitizing and keeping yourself fight the virus at an individual level?

A. Both I and my wife have been vaccinated with both doses of Covishield. Plus we wear double masks and a face shield while delivering and explaining usage to people with COVID during house calls. This to an extend helps us in keeping us as well as others safe from contaminating viruses.

Q. There is high demand for oxygen cylinders across the country, amid this, there are costly cylinders, scams, etc... How many yet have you been able to help and how`s the traffic?

A. Each day and night is a different panic. The important part is to understand the oxygen needs of the person first. Whether the patient it is at home or in an ambulance or in a hospital. One needs to speak to the actual caregiver to get a real sense because multiple people are trying to arrange for the same person at times. A few hundred people so far have been responded to date from 24 April 2021 onwards.

Q. You and your family doing a tremendous job must be praised by all these you have helped... Can you share any sensitive incident that has happened while addressing any family with the cylinder?

A. What can be sensitive about delivering an oxygen cylinder? No different than delivering a pizza. It’s a strange irony--we live in a city where you get pizzas delivered in 30 minutes but you are not assured of life-saving oxygen.

Q. Life is hectic and unpredictable... Buying oxygen... Delivering it…taking preventive measures... Everything has its own cost... How are you holding it up?

A.  Personal funds and contribution of family and friends. Apart from this if anyone initiates in supporting, one can get access to online payments.

Paytm Number – 8802049992

Google Pay – 8802049992

Q. The last question I have is that.....You have seen the worst of situations in the families fighting Covid positive… what message you want to give them from your end.

A. Friends and family should or I must say have to support the person having Covid. Don’t be scared of helping out your own, life is precious and so is yours. Losing a family member is drastically horrifying. When a close friend of mine, Rasdeep Singh, was taken to the Gangaram Hospital in northwestern Delhi on April 27, for treatment of Covid-19, we saw first-hand the heart-rending scenes of people frantically searching for oxygen. As friends and family waited for a bed, our friend was kept alive in an ambulance using portable oxygen cylinders. It was at this point that we decided to start our free oxygen van service. 

We are also targeting that society in Noida should start initiating in building Oxygen Bank. We will be helping society in particular with funds and building the medical Oxygen bank.

NOTE: Any society in Noida if wants to do so (have an Oxygen Bank in their society), they can contact at this number:

Commander Rajiv Sardana (Retd.) - 8802049992

Anyone who wants to support financially:

Financial Contributions can be sent to Commander Rajiv Sardana (Retd.)
Account Name:                RAJIV SARDANA
SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO. - 20042710648
IFSC CODE -                    SBIN0010623 Branch INS India, Dalhousie Road, New Delhi

Paytm Number – 8802049992
Google Pay - 8802049992

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