Beating Coronavirus: How Indian Railways Is Aiding The Fight Against Covid-19

Continuing its efforts to keep the energy infrastructure alive and kicking, Indian Railways has undertaken a massive exercise to ensure the transportation of raw materials to the power sector in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic besides supplying other essential commodities and cooked meals across the country.

As of now, more than 3300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported and close to 200 people have been cured/discharged from the hospitals after recovery.

Chairing the meeting of the Empowered Groups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed country-wide preparedness regarding the availability of hospitals, proper isolation, and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training and also directed the concerned groups and officials to ensure sufficient production, procurement, and availability of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves, and ventilators.

Fulfilling its commitment to ensure availability of important raw material and fuel, the public transporter has pressed its full-fledged freight services to meet the requirements of the power transport and key infrastructure sectors during the nationwide lock down due to COVID-19.

During the lockdown, staff deployed at various good sheds, stations and control offices continued working with full devotion to ensure that the supply of essential items for these critical sectors does not gets affected, said a senior Railway Ministry official

IRCTC, railways catering arm, has activated its base kitchens to prepare meals to be distributed to needy people all over the country in the time of coronascare.
According to railways, due to relentless operations of Railways, all power plants and Petroleum depots have comfortable stock with them inspite of COVID 19 lockdown.
During last 12 days from March 23 to April 3, 2020, Railways loaded and carried 2,50,020 wagons of coal, and 17,742 wagons of petroleum products with one wagon acrrying about 58-60 ton consignment.

In order to monitor the uninterrupted movement of materials fuelling the power, transport and infrastructure sectors and other essential commodities over Indian Railways, an emergency freight control centre is working in the Railway Ministry.

Freight movement is being closely monitored by officials at very senior level. Issues which were earlier being faced by Railways at many terminal points in loading and unloading operations are being effectively resolved. Indian Railways along with Home Ministry is keeping in touch with State Governments to sort out any such operational issue if they arise.

Railways' Northern zone in its fight against COVID-19, has manufactured 2271 litres hand sanitizer, 10,305 face masks, 302 Coverall and 259 coaches converted into isolation wards till April 4 to fight against COVID-19.

According to a Northern Railway official, being part of lifeline of nation, the zone is fully committed to save the life of the people and in this effort, it will continue to manufacture the above essential items and conversion of coaches into isolation wards to fight against coronavirus.