Oxygen Express First 'Oxygen Express' train leaves for Maharashtra from Vishakhapatnam
Vishakhapatnam/IBNS: The first "Oxygen Express" train started its journey from Andhra Pradesh's Vishakhapatnam to Maharashtra, the worst covid-hit state, where hospitals have been fighting with oxygen shortfall to save critically ill patients.
The train with large oxygen tanks left the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) facility at Visakhapatnam this evening for Maharashtra which recorded new 67,013 Covid-19 cases and 568 fatalities. The active caseload of 6,99,858 has left the state administation struggling to ensure necessary healthcare, especially medical oxygen, for the patients.
"Seven empty tankers from... Maharashtra reached at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam early morning today. Liquid medical oxygen (LMO) has been filled in the tankers since morning," the railways said in a statement.
"Each tanker has been loaded with 15 tonnes of LMO and the train started to move towards Maharashtra in the evening. A joint effort by Waltair Division of East Coast Railways, and officials of RINL made the project a success. This will prove to be highly beneficial during the recent upsurge in COVID-19," the railways said.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted a video of the train preparing to leave the RINL facility.
"The first 'Oxygen Express' train loaded with liquid medical oxygen tankers has left for Maharashtra from Vizag. Railways continues to serve the nation in difficult times by transporting essential commodities and driving innovation to ensure the wellbeing of all citizens," Goyal tweeted.
The first ‘Oxygen Express’ train loaded with liquid medical oxygen tankers has left for Maharashtra from Vizag.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 22, 2021
Railways continues to serve the nation in difficult times by transporting essential commodities and driving innovation to ensure the wellbeing of all citizens. pic.twitter.com/4t7ZKbjeIT
The railways will transport medical oxygen from steel plants that produce oxygen to various parts of the country where hospitals have been gasping for oxygen supply.
"Railways transported essential commodities and kept the supply chain intact even during the lockdown last year and continue to serve the nation in times of emergencies. This time movement of 'Oxygen Express' towards different parts of the country will help patients and different hospitals," the railways said.
General Manager Vidya Bhusan congratulated the Waltair team led by Divisional Railway Manager Chetan Srivastava for carrying out the task.
Earlier the PIB also tweeted that the Oxygen Expess trains wee getting ready to leave Vishakhapatnam and Bokaro for Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
#Oxygen Express trains getting prepared to leave with Liquid Medical Oxygen from Visakhapatanam & Bokaro today for Maharashtra & UP respectively
— PIB in Telangana 🇮🇳 (@PIBHyderabad) April 22, 2021
Green Corridor created from Lucknow to Varanasi covering the distance of 270km in 4 hrs 20 minutes
Read: https://t.co/5vQaYbbeZc pic.twitter.com/U0EDR8u1uA
While the Centre and the states are working with the private sector to replenish the oxygen supply, sudden rise in cases with more and more complaining of breathlessness has led to severe shortage.
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