After public outcry, Railways says blankets washed twice a month

NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns over quality and hygiene of woollen blankets provided to train passengers in AC coaches, Northern Railway on Saturday said they are washed every 15 days and sterilisation is done using hot naphthalene vapour every fortnight.

It added that a pilot will soon start where UV robotic sanitisation of all blankets on Jammu and Dibrugarh Rajdhani trains will take place after every round trip. UV robotic sanitation uses ultraviolet light to kill germs.

Northern Railway spokesperson Himanshu Shekhar told reporters on Saturday that the use of hot naphthalene vapour is a time-tested and effective method of sterilisation. He said cotton linens are washed at mechanised laundries after every use and these must pass the 'whitometer test'.

"Before 2010, woollen blankets were washed once every 2-3 months. Then this was brought down to a month and now it's 15 days. Where we have logistic challenges, all blankets are washed at least once in a month. Washing in a month is an exception, not a routine," he added.

Indian Railways provides more than 6 lakh blankets daily to passengers across the country and in Northern Railway zone, over 1 lakh blankets and bed rolls are distributed per day.