More ‘Oxygen Expresses’ on way to Haryana, MP, Telangana, UP: Indian Railways

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30

The Indian Railways on Friday said that more ‘Oxygen Express’ were on their way to Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, as cumulative liquid medical oxygen (LMO) carried by the transport monolith reached to 664 MT and 126 MT more are on the track.

In an official statement the Ministry of Railway said, the transport monolith has been continuing with its ‘Oxygen Express journey’ and trying to save as many lives as possible and is “in full preparedness to run even more such trains based on the requests from state governments”.

It said, “Haryana will receive its first and second Oxygen Express soon. Two trains, one from Rourkela to Haryana carrying 47.11 MT LMO in 3 tankers and another one from Angul to Haryana carrying 32 MT in 2 tankers are on their way to their destinations. These trains will deliver much needed oxygen supply to the residents of Haryana in a safe and timely manner.”

According to the Railways, Madhya Pradesh would receive its second Oxygen Express carrying 47.37 MT LMO from Bokaro to Sagar and Jabalpur in four tankers. “Train started from Bokaro on 29 April 2021 and is currently moving uninterrupted towards its destination. Train is expected to reach its destination by today evening,” it added.

Noting that Uttar Pradesh has continuously been replenishing its Oxygen supply, it said the state will receive its seventh Oxygen Express, which is expected to start shortly from Bokaro carrying three tankers of LMO. “In order to further boost up the oxygen supply, the UP government has also requested to transport 10 feet ISO containers loaded with Liquid Oxygen from Jamshedpur to Lucknow,” it said.

Advance and additional planning are required to transport ISO containers and Railways Officials are currently working on the best possible options to move ISO containers safely and securely, it said, adding that it is expected that ISO containers carrying liquid medical oxygen would start loading on May 1, 2021, at Jamshedpur.

So far, the Indian Railways has delivered more than 664 MT of LMO to Maharashtra (174 MT), Uttar Pradesh (356.47 MT), Madhya Pradesh (64 MT) and Delhi (70 MT).