Kota (Rajasthan): At least 100 track maintainers have tested Covid-19 positive in the last month in the Kota Railway division in Rajasthan.
Despite that, the railway administration is not taking any strict action to curb the spread. Consequently, the track maintainers have alerted that if the administration does not make any suitable arrangements, they will draw the flak.
In the Kota railway division, there are almost 150 groups of track-maintainers, in each group, there are almost 20 to 30 members. The work of all employees is of track maintenance, which is not possible without joining the group.
These track maintainers generally work on small stations, where there are no facilities for medication, neither there are nearby markets. Even after this, vaccination of track maintainers is not being done by the railways on priority.
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The president of All India Railway Track Maintenance Union, Mukesh Yogi told ETV Bharat that these maintainers are pressurized to work in groups. The health condition of many of them is getting worse day by day, but the railway administration is still not providing any leave for them.
National Organization General Secretary Abhay Singh Meena said, "only emergency work should be taken up during the pandemic, as they are bound to work in groups for track maintenance which increases the risk of getting infected."
Read: Lancet report cites India's 'complacency' over COVID-19 crisis management
Rajasthan reported 18,231 new Covid-19 cases and 164 fatalities on Friday, pushing the state's infection tally to 7,20,799 and the death toll to 5,346.
State capital Jaipur reported the highest number of 48 deaths and 4,902 new cases, according to an official report.
Read: 1 In 3 Women With COVID Pneumonia At Lung Damage Risk: Lancet
