Sustaining the fight against the scourge of the second wave of Covid-19 in the country, the Ministry of Railways is making all-out efforts to facilitate the health care services to State Governments in unprecedented times. Indian Railways has started to deploy isolation coaches at various places for the treatment of Covid-19 patients with mild and moderate symptoms. More than 4,400 Isolation Coaches with around 70,000 beds has been facilitated on demand made by respective states by mobilising workforce and requisite materials for the task.
Covid care coaches deployed in various states
Isolation coaches are positioned as per the states’ demand and at present, 298 coaches with a bed capacity of more than 4,700 beds have been handed over to various states.
Assam: In order to facilitate medical assistance, Isolation Coaches were positioned by the Railways on the demands from the State of Assam. A total of 21 isolation coaches to Guwahati and 20 isolation coaches to Badarpur near Silchar in Assam has been deployed so far.
Gujarat: Railways has deployed 10 coaches for Sabarmati and 6 coaches for Chandoliya.
Nagaland: State government of Nagaland also demanded 10 Isolation coaches which are respectively positioned at Dimapur.
Utility of Covid Care Coaches by Delhi, MP, UP & Maharashtra
In Delhi, the Railway has catered around 75 Covid Care Coaches with a capacity of 1200 beds. 50 coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 Coaches at Anand Vihar stations. 5 admissions were registered with all discharged. A total of 1200 beds are available here.
At Nandurbar (Maharashtra), 11 covid care coaches are deployed where 10 new admissions were registered in the last two days while 10 patients earlier admitted at this isolation facility discharged. 26 Covid patients are currently in isolation at this facility.
Madhya Pradesh: The Ratlam Division of Western Railway has deployed 22 Coaches with a capacity of 320 beds at Tihi station near Indore. At Bhopal, where 20 coaches are deployed, there were 28 admissions with 10 patients discharged as per the latest data. Bhopal and Jabalpur station in the state of Madhya Pradesh has twenty coaches each as Covid Care Centre.
In UP, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli & Nazibabad totalling a capacity of 800 beds.
Re-mobilised Coaches with add-on Conveniences
Covid Care Coaches have been modified to cater to the patients in the best possible manner. Modifications have been done with additionally adding coolers, jute-mats to cater to the current hot weather conditions. The newly modified coaches have been divided into 8 cabins which hold 16 beds dedicated for patients. The coaches have all the facilities and equipment required including oxygen cylinders, mosquito nets, bio-toilets and power sockets. Space has been created to hold IV fluid bottles, extra bottle holders in these coaches while clamps have been provided to hang them.
From maintaining basic infrastructure to maintaining the hygiene of the coaches and premises, the Railways is making all efforts to cater to Covid patients. According to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Railways and the state government has decided upon sharing the responsibility of maintaining the infrastructure of Covid Care Coaches.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been deployed to provide security at the platform area and station premises. The district administration has been given the responsibility of other infrastructure facilities including refilling of oxygen cylinders, waste disposal, catering to doctors and paramedical staff, facilitating ambulance and overall supervision.
