Mumbai : The railway authorities on Friday launched a seat-cum-stretcher facility in the second class compartment of the Central Railway trains.
The latest facility will enable commuters to fetch stretchers instantly inside the train compartment and carry injured or ill passengers to the nearby ambulance.
After 11 stretchers were stolen from the luggage compartment of the trains, these stretches have been placed as seats in the compartment. The passenger will merely have to unhook them from the seat and use them. The stretcher will be put in two coaches of each rake on the CR. There will also be instruction put up in trains to guide commuters for the detachment of these stretches and their use in the time of need. Sign boards will also be put up at the door of the compartment signifying the location of the stretcher.
Divisional Railway Manager of CR, Mukesh Nigam said, “These stretchers are heavy and cannot be easily stolen without being noticed unlike the previous ones.” These stretches will be equipped with belts to hold a victim in place and is 1.5 feet wide and 6.5 feet in length. While the 14 foldable stretchers that were stolen have been replaced in the luggage compartment as well.
