Railways to withdraw blanket supply in long-distance AC trains

Kolkata: Passengers travelling in long-distance AC trains will have to make sure that they are carrying their blanket as the Indian Railways has started withdrawing quilt from its coaches amid rising Coronavirus cases in India.

"South Eastern Railways (SER) has decided that curtains and blankets used in AC coaches in all trains of SER are being withdrawn from service to prevent the spread of COVID-19 till further order," said Bidhan Chandra, public relations officer, SER.

He reiterated that the temperature setting of the AC shall also be increased suitably so that the requirement of blankets is not felt necessary.

"If the health condition of the passenger is not good and requests us for the blanket then only we will provide him," said Chandra.

A COVID-19 awareness campaign was initiated on Saturday at several places with the Mobile Health Unit "Pradeep" in Sealdah Division. Preventive and promotional features of public Health aspects related to control of the spread of Novel Coronavirus were elaborated to railway persons and passengers at different stations viz Budge budge, Nungi, Brace bridge, Majherhat and Ballygunge.

Application of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) was made through posters, banners, leaflets and audio presentations. Interactive sessions were held with passengers and staff by DRM, CMS and ACMS, Sealdah with a lot of enthusiasm and interest among the onlookers/passengers.

As a precautionary step to prevent the spread of COVID-19, an Isolation Ward (for Fever cases) is fully operational at Eastern Railway HQ Hospital (B R Singh Hospital), Sealdah, Kolkata. Similar Wards are functioning at ER's Divisional Railway Hospitals of Howrah, Asansol and Malda and Railway Workshop Hospitals at Liluah, Kancharapara and sub-divisional Hospital at Andul. Pathology laboratories are also been activated for the purpose.

Kolkata Metro has taken also several steps to make its staff as well as commuters aware about this virus. As part of the initiative, a door-to-door awareness campaign on Coronavirus infection was conducted at Tollygunge Staff Colony A-Block on March 11. Medical officers of Metro Railway interacted with staff and their family members and also counselled them about what needs to be done to prevent spreading of this infection.

Posters and banners are also on display at different stations of Metro Railway to educate commuters about Coronavirus infection. Special videos and announcements are also being played at all Metro stations to educate people about dos and don'ts.