IIT develops technology to sanitise currency notes, groceries to fight against Covid-19

NEW DELHI : The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has developed a trunk-shaped device fitted with ultraviolet germicidal irradiation technology, which they recommend be placed at doorsteps and all items brought from outside including grocery and currency notes be put in it to sanitise them and aid the fight against COVID-19.

As per the group at IIT Ropar, the storage compartment when marketed, can be accessible at under ₹500. The gadget will take 30 minutes to purify the things and the group has suggested a brief chilling period before one takes the things out. 

"The battle against crown pandemic, won't end just with social separating and not venturing out. In coming days and weeks, it will be critical to be mindful of everything conceivable. We have built up a gadget which resembles any trunk in our home, and we prescribe it be put at doorsteps or might be some place nearer to the section. 

"At this moment there are numerous who wash vegetables with warm water before utilizing yet the equivalent is



impossible with cash notes or wallets. So we have built up a typical cleaning answer for everything," Naresh Rakha, Senior Scientific Officer at IIT Ropar, told PTI. 

The group suggests that all things originating from outside including money notes, vegetables, milk parcels, any things requested through conveyance, wrist watch, wallets, cell phones or any records be put in the storage compartment before being utilized.

"The device is based on ultraviolet germicidal irradiation technology used in water purifiers. We strongly advise not to look directly at the light inside the trunk as it can be harmful," Rakha said.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 199 and the number of cases to 6,412 in the country on Friday,

While the number of active COVID-19 cases is 5,709, as many as 503 people were cured and discharged and one had migrated, it said.

The ministry said at least 30 new deaths have been reported since Thursday evening.