As the country is battling the scourge of the current second wave of Covid, the Ministry of Railways is deploying a no-holds barred approach by re-mobilising its initiative of Covid Care Isolation Coaches, already devised during the initial wave of Covid-19 with add-on conveniences.
- As a measure of preparedness, Covid Care coaches have been readied to serve as additional health care facilities for isolation of Covid patients with mild symptoms.
- These coaches have now been additionally fitted with conveniences viz. coolers, jute-mats to cater to the current hot weather conditions.
- In this regard, the State Govts have been advised on the Modalities & Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in place and the availability of Covid care coaches.
- Nearly 4000 Covid Care Coaches with 64000 beds, have positioned at various railway stations in the country, some of which have already served the isolation needs of patients in the first wave of Covid.
- The position of isolation coaches in the high-covid-afflicted zones are as under:
- In Delhi, 50 coaches (with 800 beds) are deployed at Shakurbasti station (4 patients are currently admitted & 25 coaches (with 400 beds) are made available at Anand Vihar Terminal.
- At Nandurbar (Maharashtra), 21 coaches (with 378 beds) are positioned and currently 55 patients are admitted at this facility.
- At Bhopal station, 20 coaches have been positioned.
- 50 Coaches have been readied for deployment in Punjab and 20 coaches positioned for deployment in Jabalpur.
- On demand of State Governments, these isolation centres will cater to needs of patients with mild and moderate symptoms (as directed to these facilities by State Health Authorities).
- The Railways takes all efforts to provide catering arrangements to these patients and maintain hygiene in these coaches.
- The State Governments’ utilisation of the Isolation Coaches will be made available through updates from time to time.
Oxygen Express delivers Oxygen in Maharashtra:
Railways took the movement of oxygen express as a challenge and successfully ran the first oxygen express from Kalamboli to Vizag and back up to Nasik. The moment railways got the request for, made ramps at various places immediately for the movement of liquid medical oxygen tankers.
- It must be appreciated the work done by the team in Mumbai as the ramp was made in only 24 hrs time at Kalamboli.
- For the movement of Ro-Ro service Railways had to map the entire route considering the various constraints like Ghat sections, Road Over Bridges, Tunnels, Curves, Platform canopies, Over Head Equipment etc. at certain locations.
- Because height is an important aspect in this movement, Railways mapped the route via Vasai.
- The model of road tanker T1618 with a height of 3320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons.
- The longer route via Vasai was charted as Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC) is not permitted to travel in Ghat sections over Mumbai division.
- As oxygen is cryogenic and hazardous chemical, Railways have to avoid sudden acceleration, deceleration, have to check pressures in between, especially when it is in loaded condition.
- Yet, railways took it as challenge, mapped the route, trained people and could take these particular size tankers to the Vizag via Vasai, Surat, Bhusaval, Nagpur route.
- The distance between Kalamboli and Vizag is more than 1850kms which was completed by these tankers only in about 50 hours.
- 7 tankers with more than 100 tons LMO (Liquid Medical Oxygen) were loaded in 10 hrs and transported back to Nagpur in only 21 hrs.
- Railways have unloaded 3 tankers in Nagpur yesterday and the remaining 4 tankers have reached Nashik at 10.25am on 24th April, 2021 i.e. in just 12 hrs time from Nagpur to Nashik.
- Transportation of Oxygen through trains is faster over long distances than road transport.
- Transportation through Rail takes 2 days while through road it takes 3 days.
- Trains can run 24 hours in a day but truck drivers need to take halts etc.
- The green corridor is created for the faster movement of these tankers and monitoring of movement was done at the apex level as we know that it’s a difficult time for our Nation and Nation is first for us.
- Railways transported essential commodities and kept the supply chain intact even during the lockdown last year and continue to serve the Nation in times of emergencies.
Source: PIB-Press Release
