Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/railways-sets-up-booths-for-covid-tests/articleshow/88798421.cms
Publisher: Times of India
PATNA: Amid an exponential surge in the Covid-19 cases in Bihar, railways has set up Covid testing booths at 29 stations falling under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway (ECR) to conduct tests on a maximum number of passengers. Railways are running these Covid testing booths in coordination with the state health department para-medical staff of the respective district on railway platforms.
According to ECR’s RPF chief security commissioner-cum-IG S Mayank, railways has deployed RPF men and women in adequate numbers at these stations to streamline Covid testing on passengers reaching here from far off places. During the past two three days, more than 260 passengers had tested positive. They were immediately isolated and put on proper medication at their respective places, he said.
In the Danapur division alone, railways have set up Covid testing booths at seven stations which includes Patna Junction, Buxar, Ara, Patliputra Junction, Jehanabad, Kiul and Rajgir. The number of testing stations has increased to bring more passengers under mandatory Covid testing advisory on railway platforms as issued by the Railway Board, the PPP IG said adding RPF men and women are assisting passengers to undergo hassle-free testing.
In the Samastipur division, nine Covid testing booths are functional at Samastipur, Raxaul, Bettiah, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Motihari, Narkatiaganj, Dauram Madhepura and Sitamarhi. The state health department has deployed 57 paramedical staff at these stations to carry out uninterrupted testing. During the past three days, at least 7000 passengers had undergone the test, out of which 77 of them tested positive for Covid, he said adding more than 1000 passengers were also inoculated also at these stations.
In the Sonepur division, the railways are running testing booths at seven stations which are Sonepur, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Barauni, Begusarai, Khagaria and Naugachia. While Covid testing on passengers is going on round the clock at Muzaffarpur and Barauni, at other stations Covid testing goes on between 8 am and 8 pm daily under the direct supervision of state health paramedical staff, the RPF IG said.
Railways is carrying out Covid testing at six stations which are Gaya, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya Junction, Dehri on-Sone, Anugrah Narain Road, Sasaram and Bhabhua under Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya division. More than a thousand passengers are undergoing Covid testing daily at these stations. While those with mild symptoms were asked to isolate at their homes, those who tested positive were handed over to the state health department staff for further treatment, he said adding, paramedical staff are doing rapid antigen and RT-PCR on passengers reaching here from far off places on railway platforms.
