News Brief
Interior of the isolation coach
Responding to the emergency requirement, Indian Railways has swiftly deployed 10 Isolation Coaches at Dimapur on Sunday in keeping with the demand of Nagaland.
While the government of Assam has requested for Covid coaches to be kept in readiness at various stations, the Railways has mobilised additional Covid Care Coaches for use in States of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Strengthening the capabilities of the nation in the united fight against Covid, the Railways has, amongst its multi-pronged initiatives, deployed nearly 4,000 Isolation Coaches with almost 64,000 beds.
To work concurrently with the States and in a bid to reach out as swiftly as possible, the Railways has drawn a de-centralised plan of action empowering Zones and Divisions to work out their Memorandum of Agreement for cohesive action.
These Isolation Coaches can be easily moved and positioned at places of demand on the Indian Railways network.
Accordingly, as per States’ demands, at present, 213 coaches have been handed over to various states for Covid care with a bed-capacity of nearly 3,400.
The Railways has also positioned 50 coaches at major cities of Uttar Pradesh like Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad. As per district authorities' demands, Isolation Coaches are being shifted from Nandurbar to Palghar.
Isolation Coaches are also being deployed for Jabalpur.
The utilisation of these facilities in the States, as per latest records, cumulatively registers 123 admissions with 62 subsequent discharges. Presently, 61 Covid patients are utilising the Isolation Coaches.
A total of 3,200 beds are still available at these facilities including the newly deployed coaches at Dimapur.
Government of Assam has also requested that 150 Covid Coaches be kept in readiness at various stations though they have not requisitioned them.
Six Stations — Kamakhya, Guwahati, Lumding, New Bongaigaon, Silchar, Badarpur and Dibrugarh — have been suggested where these coaches can be placed whenever required.