BPCL supplying petroleum products to Army amid all odds during lockdown: Company official

Itanagar, Apr 15 () The Bharat PetroleumCorporation Limited (BPCL) is serving the Army andparamilitary forces in remote Arunachal Pradesh districtsdespite all odds during the ongoing nationwide lockdown tocontain COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.Petroleum products from Numaligarh in Assams Golaghatdistrict are taken to Tawang and West Kameng districts inArunachal Pradesh, a BPCL official said.

The challenges are big, but so is our resolve, BPCLDeputy General Manager (Brand & PR) S S Sundararajan said.InMarch, BPCL supplied 694 kl of petroleum products to the armedand paramilitary forces apart from the BRO, he said.As the nation is under lockdown, the long journeybecomes full of challenges, he said.To begin with, the route is an extremely lonely routeand the endpoints are far away. It can take up to 6 or 7 daysfor a return trip. Because of the lockdown, intermediatestopovers are shut down and finding food and water along theroute is quite a challenge, Sundararajan said.To put an end to this problem, the BPCL has beenproviding drivers with non-perishable food, water and otheressentials, he added.Upon reaching the destination, the Army helps thedrivers to get their vehicles checked and give them food forthe return journey, if necessary, Sundarrajan said.

In the mountainous regions of Tawang and West Kamengdistricts of the state, destinations are located at very highaltitudes. Damteng is located at an altitude of 14,000 feet,while Bomdir is located at an altitude of 9,000 feet, hesaid.At such lofty elevations, the air is thin and theoxygen level is low. This causes breathing difficulty,exhaustion and fatigue some of the most serious risks fordrivers, the DGM added.It is a time tested bond of trust between BPCL andthe armed force services that helps keep our national borderssafe round the year and especially during the present tryingtimes, he said."We salute their selfless and unflinching service onthe frontlines of border defence. Our heads also bow inrecognition of the courage of our motivated men on the wheelsfor going beyond the call of duty in the service of thenation, which is a solemn commitment of the entire BPCLfamily, Sundararajan added. UPLSBN SBN