Bengaluru, Apr 19 (IANS): The South Western Railway (SWR) zone transported 12,162 kg medicines and equipment to in different states amid the nationwide lockdown, said an official on Sunday.

"SWR has moved 1,160 parcels weighing 12,162 kg of medical supplies and equipment to different parts of the country, ensuring availability of critical care medical items during the lockdown," said a SWR spokesperson in a statement.

The medical parcels were ferried to Howrah, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi, Dimapur and Jaipur.

Interestingly, e-tailers are also engaging the Railways to ship their goods.

"One of the e-commerce companies on Sunday sent its first consignment of 2.7 tonnes through parcel service to be sent from Bengaluru to Howrah," said the spokesperson.

Similarly, other e-tailers are also expected to follow suit, making use of the railway zone's timetabled parcel service.

"While freight trains ensure bulk transportation of food grains, edible oil, salt, sugar, coal, cement, milk, vegetables, fruits etc to different parts of the country, parcel trains ensure movement of various items that are in comparatively smaller quantities," said the spokesperson.

Parcel trains are a fast mode of inter-state goods transportation.

The Indian Railways has been running parcel trains across the country amid lockdown to ensure supply of goods and essential commodities.