Covid-19: PPE Developed By Indian Railways Receives DRDO Clearance, Mass Production Set To Begin Soon

In a major development towards upping the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical and healthcare workers leading the nation's fight against COVID-19 pandemic, two samples of PPE coveralls developed by a Northern Railways workshop have received a clearance from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reports Economic Times.

The testing of the two samples was conducted at a DRDO laboratory in Gwalior. The tests checked the resistance of the bio-protective covering fabric to the penetration of blood or body fluid.

Having received clearance from DRDO, the Northern Railways is now set to take up the manufacturing of these coveralls which will be worn by doctors in the hospitals operated by the Indian Railways while treating patients for COVID-19.

While the Northern Railways is presently producing 20 PPE coveralls a day, the figure is set to go up to 100 units a day in a week long span. Railway Board has already issued the directives to the Zonal railways to take up the production of PPEs.