Representational Image| Photo: Mathrubhumi Archives
Kannur: The trains are operating service after overcoming the challenges from fungus, bacteria and virus. The railway has been carrying out disinfection of each train before conducting service.
Efforts are taken to destroy fungus on seats and filling bacteria mixture in toilets. Disinfection of each coach is strictly carried out before the departure of trains.
The disinfection procedure is being carried out at workshop depots in Mangaluru, Shoranur, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Bio-toilets are established in 2584 coaches in the trains which operate service in Kerala.
The bio-toilets, which have been developed by the railways and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), have a colony of anaerobic bacteria, kept in a container under the lavatories that convert human waste into water and small amounts of gases. Hence, human waste will not fall on the railway tracks.
Fresh bacteria mixture will be filled in the tank chamber as the trains were not used for many months.
50,000-litre bacteria mixture was taken from Nagpur to Mangaluru.100 litre each was filled in four tanks in one coach. Over 1500 bio-toilets are maintained in Mangaluru.
The bacteria which breed without water and oxygen are produced from cow dung mixture. These bacteria which consumes human waste will emit methane and carbon dioxide.
A special chemical solution is used to destroy the fungus on the seats.
Wash hands to stray away virus and bacteria
Train passengers must maintain personal hygiene to avoid chances of virus infection. Hands should be washed with soap after using the toilet.
“Anaerobic bacteria are not harmful. But it should not be let to enter the human body. So hands should be cleaned properly with soap and water. Passengers must be careful to keep the bio-toilet safe to use,” said Microbiologist and hydrology researcher PU Megha.
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