Ajay Devgn teams up with BMC, Hinduja Hospital to set up 20-bed COVID centre

With cities across the nation reeling under the alarming rise in coronavirus cases, several film industry figures have stepped in to offer assistance. Among these is actor Ajay Devgn, who, through his NY Foundation, has teamed up with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to set up a 20-bed COVID centre in Dadar's Shivaji Park.

Devgn had paid for ventilators for patients in the Dharavi locality of Mumbai last year. The actor has now joined forces with other members of the Hindi film industry to convert the Bharat Scouts and Guides Hall in Shivaji Park into a COVID centre that will be equipped with oxygen facilities, monitors and ventilators. 

Joy Chakraborty, COO, Hinduja Hospital, confirmed that the hospital would provide food, medicine and manpower to the centre. He said, "It will be an extension of Hinduja Hospital."

Shiv Sena corporator Vishakha Raut hailed the actor's efforts to ameliorate the situation. "It is great that Ajay Devgn has supported the BMC," she said.

Besides Devgn, producers Anand Pandit, Boney Kapoor, Luv Ranjan, Rajneesh Khanuja, Leena Yadav, Ashim Bajaj, Sameer Nair, Deepak Dhar, Rishi Negi and Tarun Rathi have also made a contribution of Rs1 crore to the Smiley Account, which is part of the business development cell of the BMC.

Meanwhile, in light of the critical oxygen shortage that the nation is witnessing, artistes Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna have recently contributed 100 oxygen concentrators.

Similarly, actor Ayushmann Khurrana and writer Tahira Kashyap, his wife, have contributed to the chief minister's relief fund in Maharashtra and are using their social media presence to help people. 

Khurrana's Bala (2019) co-star Bhumi Pednekar has also been using social media to amplify requests from fans for medical help as well as share pandemic-related information. 

Actress Alia Bhatt has teamed up with journalist Faye D'Souza to identify and amplify crucial information and ensure medical help reaches those in need. 

Salman Khan, meanwhile, has taken up the task of distributing food to frontline workers via his Being Human Foundation.