Maligaon, May 03: Today almost all the people around the globe are struggling to overcome the menace of Covid-19 pandemic. India is not an exception. In our country, lakhs of corona warriors are fighting at their respective levels against this deadly virus.
While expressing thier gratitude, images of corona warriors like Doctor, nurses, cleaner, chemists, ambulance drivers, policemen etc, come to our mind. Unfortunately, most of us forget the services of the Railwaymen without whose services there is hardly any possibility to maintain the supply chain of essential services on a Pan India basis.
During the Nationwide lockdown period, Railways have demonstrated agility and ingenuity to cater to completely new requirements that arose in India’s fight against COVID-19. As the situation being faced is an unprecedented one, the requirements are also of a unique kind.
However, there was the challenge of uninterrupted supply of essential commodities like rice, wheat, vegetables, milk, medicine, fruits, petroleum products etc. not only to the doorsteps of crores of people of our country but also to Corona Warriors like Doctor, nurse, policemen etc.
so that they can effectively fight against this dark chapter of mankind. Besides, there was a challenge to provide PPE kits, blood sample etc. in the areas where these were needed. Indian Railway has played a significant role in providing its services for transportation of these essential commodities and lifesaving drugs and medical equipments even beyond this region.
There are even cases when a blood sample of a patient was transported from Dibrugarh to Guwahati so that his Doctor may decide his further treatment based on Blood Report of the Guwahati based NABH accredited laboratory.
Northeast Frontier Railway has already operated more than 655 nos. of inbound freight trains during the lockdown period w.e.f. 25th March’2020. These inbound freight trains were unloaded at Jorhat, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, New Guwahati, Azara, Changsari, Barpeta Road, Harmuti, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri, Katihar and various other locations.
Similarly more than 100 nos. of Parcel Special trains arriving at Guwahati, New Guwahati, Azara, Changsari, Agartala and New Tinsukia from major industrial hubs situated in Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Bangalore and Kolkata Area were unloaded for quick distribution of essential commodities to remote markets to provide relief to the public.
In order to ensure hassle-free booking and delivery of Parcel & freight consignments, all Railway Officials at every level were put into the job so that wheels of rail never stopped. Northeast Frontier Railway achieved to deliver such a huge quantity of essential commodity with just mandatory skeleton staff.
These inbound Parcel Express trains carried essential commodities like Milk, various Milk Products, Medicine, Mask, Personal Protection Equipment, Sanitizer for hospital uses, and Sanitizer for Personal Use, Maggi and other Nestle products, fresh fruits, Baby foods, Amul Taza, Amul Ghee etc. to this region.
The NFR has also played a pivotal role in ensuring the availability of essential commodities and medical equipment in this region at this hour of crisis. NFR has operated a few Covid-19 Parcel Special Trains viz – 1) Guwahati – Agartala & back, 2) Guwahati – Dibrugarh & back, 3) Guwahati – Mandipathar & back, 4) Guwahati – Howarh & back, 5) Guwahati – New Jalpaiguri & back in recent times.
This is to ensure that various producers of this region can avail of the transportation facility amidst a nationwide lockdown period. Due to this endeavour, NFR has been able to transport more than 600 ton of material containing sanitizer, mask, medicine, blood sample bags, other goods etc.
These Parcel Special Services rendered by the Indian Railway are not only ensuring the availability of essential commodities across the country but also playing a pivotal role in the fight against Covid-19 with support to the growth of our economy.
