Northeast Frontier Railway strategies to fight against COVID-19

GUWAHATI: In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Indian Railways took the unprecedented decision of suspending all its passenger train operations from March 22. However, goods and parcel train services are being carried out 24/7 to ensure an uninterrupted and seamless supply chain of goods and essential commodities to people at every corner of India as per requirement. In addition to this, several measures are taken by Indian Railways to boost the efforts of Central and State Governments in the fight against COVID-19. As NFR serves the North-eastern states including parts of West Bengal and Bihar, it has also taken the six pronged strategies to live up to the expectations of people during this critical time.

The strategies are -

Contributing to reinforce the Health Infrastructure:

NFR has modified 315 passenger coaches as isolation coaches providing about 2,500 isolation beds which will be made available to the Health Authorities as and when required. It has also equipped the existing Railway Hospitals to meet the COVID-19 needs, earmarking 170 hospital beds as isolation beds, arranging about 800 bedded quarantine facilities and recruiting additional doctors & paramedics etc to deal with any exigency.

Caring for its officials and staff:

NFR produced more than 2,500 litres of hand sanitizer and nearly 76,000 reusable face masks for use by its on-duty staff. Masks are being made by staff working from their respective home at various locations like Agartala, Alipurduar, Lumding, Silchar, Katihar, Tinsukia, Rangiya etc. and hand sanitizers are being produced in the various depots/ workshops. NFR is also making PPEs for its doctors and paramedic staff in its workshops due to non-availability of the same in market. Till date 407 PPE coveralls have been made in NFR.

Carrying essential commodities to every part in its jurisdiction:

NFR is making all out efforts to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities like sugar, salt and edible oil for consumption of the common man during the nationwide lock down. With the active support from the respective State Governments, the loading, transportation and unloading of these essential commodities are going on smoothly and during this period more than 450 rakes have been unloaded in various goods shed located in various parts of NFR. NFR is also operating Parcel Express trains as per fixed Time Table timings towards Agartala, Dibrugarh, Dimapur and Mendipathar etc to ensure transportation of essential goods in small quantity. More than 25 parcel trains have run till date in NFR to carry goods to every part of its jurisdiction as per requirement.

Humanitarian efforts during difficult times:

NFR is continuing with its humanitarian efforts of providing free meals to the poorer section of the society who lack means to cope with the lockdown situation. It has provided more than 85,000 free meals till date to needy persons during the lockdown.

*Contributing to the efforts of Government of India

The Government of India has launched the Arogya Setu app on April 2 which is aimed to check spread of COVID-19 among the population. More than 88 % employees of NFR and their families have downloaded this app to contribute in the fight against COVID19.

*Lending a helping hand through innovations and other works:

The workshops and sheds in NFR are making innovative hands free wash basins for use of staff at work places and repairing/ making hospital beds, side tables, hospital trolleys etc. as per requirement to prepare itself in the fight against COVID-19.

Also Read: NFR distributes more than 48,000 free meals during the lockdown phase

Also Watch: War against COVID-19: Assam Health Department signs 22 MoUs with private hospitals in Silchar