CR gets first AC rail ambulance

The Central Railway (CR) on Thursday got its first airconditioned rail ambulance, which will be used to give medical treatment to victims during the golden hour after a rail disaster. Equipped with many medical facilities, basic treatment can be provided to at least 50 people at a time, an official said.

Another official said the ambulance, which is stationed at Kalyan, will prove especially helpful when transporting organs from one state to another for transplants. A railway ‘green corridor’, will help deliver the donated organ to the destination faster than on road, without causing much trouble to people and traffic, the official said.

Narendra Patil, chief public relations officer, CR, said the ambulance was the brainchild of former general manager of CR, SK Sood. According to Patil, Sood decided on such a train after the derailment of the Diva-sawantwadi passenger train in 2014. A total of 19 passengers died while 145 others were injured.

The Railways already have several accident relief medical equipment trains, which are fully equipped with facilities neces sary for operations. But, those trains remain parked at accident sites, till the time relief work con tinues at the disaster sites. AK Shrivastva, additional general manager of CR said the train can be used during the Kumbh Mela

A longdistance passenger train was modified to make the fourcoach rail ambulance, which has an operation theatre and waiting rooms.