The Indian Railways is facing huge crisis of employees amid the second wave of covid-19. More than 93,000 employees have tested positive over the last few weeks. Most of them are frontline workers connected with daily operations of passenger and freight trains. Let it be noted that Railways has 12 lakh employees and it has continued to run passenger and freight trains amidst the second wave.
Now, it is rationalising its manpower to ensure its operations are not affected, particularly at a time when migrants are rushing home and it is expected to run dedicated oxygen-carrying trains. Referring to the crisis, Railway Board Chairman and CEO Suneet Sharma said, “Roughly 93,000 railway employees are affected by Covid (presently). Not all require hospitalisation… We have lost lives as well. We are in close touch with our frontline workers which include drivers, guards, maintainers, station masters and TTEs and motivating them. We have already identified 72 hospitals of Indian Railways where our Covid-positive employees and their beneficiaries are being treated. More than 5,000 beds have been earmarked for these people”.
The officer also added that the real numbers may be higher.
