Railways to transport liquid medical oxygen as COVID cases rise across India

As several states have flagged the shortage of oxygen for the COVID-19, railways will start transporting liquid medical oxygen in cryogenic tankers, PTI reported. The policy was made public late Friday night and it said that tankers will be transported as a paid-for roll-on-roll (Ro-Ro) service to various destinations across states.

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The decision was taken following a plea by Maharashtra’s health secretary, the circular stated. The state is the worst-affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and a 15-day curfew, which ends on May, has been imposed.

“The matter has been examined. Competent authority has approved the transport of liquid medical oxygen in cryogenic containers,” the circular read.

The staff who will accompany liquid oxygen trucks to be loaded on the Ro-Ro service will be charged second-class ticket for the journey. Only two people will be allowed to accompany the truck.

The empty flow direction of the containers will also be charged by the railways.

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States, such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, have flagged the issue of shortage of oxygen.