Coronavirus: NFR disinfects railway coaches, facilities and premises

Dimapur, March 17 (EMN): As a measure to prevent the Coronavirus spreading, the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has been undertaking thorough cleaning of coaches apart from railway premises.

An update from the chief public relations officer of the NFR stated that special emphasis on frequent disinfection of coaches is being given. Sanitising critical areas of mass contact in all the coaches are being done after the rake is released from pit examination and washing. A dedicated team for disinfection work has been deployed to carry out this task at all the divisions.

In addition, the OBHS or on-board housekeeping service staff members on running trains are carrying out on-board cleaning of long-distance passenger-carrying mail/express trains at frequent intervals. There are 10 to 12 OBHS staffs in each train that carry cleaning equipments and disinfecting chemicals to keep the insides of coaches clean and hygienic during journey.

It may be mentioned here that the NFR had already withdrawn the provision of blankets and curtains in air-conditioned coaches of trains that are being operated to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus till improvement in situation. In addition to this special drive, disinfection is being carried out at all major stations that have huge footfall of passengers. Lift, escalators, staircases, chairs, water taps etc at the stations are being disinfected regularly by using approved chemicals in line with sanitisation efforts at all critical areas of mass contact.

The drive is also to create awareness about the Covid-19 among passengers and people in general in local dialects and languages. Announcements in local languages are being made through public address systems at all stations, while posters depicting Dos and Don’ts are being displayed at all stations and trains. Videos showing the precautions to be taken are being played at stations where facilities are available. Senior railway officials are regularly monitoring the situation to deal with any possible outbreak.

The NFR has already opened medical control rooms at designated hospitals within its operational area. Details of hospitals with contact numbers of doctors have been circulated through various media including social media. Provisions for 1,122 beds have been kept ready at different locations to keep patients in quarantine if required. The railway authorities are in close contact with the nodal authorities of state governments for close coordination.