Oxygen tankers need highly trained drivers

Oxygen is being brought to the state by the Indian Railways through special trains

Transporters have ridiculed the statement of state transport minister Anil Parab who said that the government would engage MSRTC staff in case of a shortage of oxygen tanker drivers. They said one needs specialised training to drive the sensitive cargo of liquid medical oxygen.

Amid a sudden rise in the demand for the life-saving gas, the Indian Railways has started running oxygen trains to Kalamboli and Boisar to improve supply. Maharashtra is also planning to get liquid oxygen from other states.

Sharing details about the logistics, a transporter said oxygen tankers have to be handled by drivers and the lorry staff after the train reaches the destination. They need to be transported to the site of filling inside manufacturing units.

"The process needs to be handled very carefully and this is where the specific training comes in handy. Oxygen can trigger huge fires, one mistake and everything will be lost. Not every driver can take up the job as it needs experience and training," a transporter said.

Bal Malkit Singh, chairman of the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said, "Trained drivers are required for transportation and unloading of these tankers. They are trained for 15 days for this. We have deployed 2-3 drivers around the clock with stand-by drivers and mechanics on mobile to take care of breakdowns for interrupted supply."

He said though they have converted many nitrogen tankers for transport of oxygen, it is still not enough considering the spike in demand.

Singh is also concerned that drivers are most vulnerable to the infection. "Though we are taking care of their treatment, we appeal to the government to treat them as frontline warriors, give them COVID-19 insurance and list them for vaccination on priority and administer it at a place suitably arranged for them," he added.

15
No. of days such drivers are trained for