Indian Railways Converts 5000 Coaches Into Isolation Wards With 80,000 Bed-Capacity; Ready To Be Deployed Across India

In a positive development, the Indian Railways has successfully turned 5,000 of its sleeper coaches into full-fledged isolation wards which can be deployed in any part of the nation, especially rural areas where medical facilities are not available, reports Economic Times.

These 5,000 coaches offer as many as 80,000 isolation beds to help cure COVID-19 patients in the nation. Railways has set a target to transform a total of 20,000 sleeper coaches into isolation wards.

The railways will be deploying these coaches in different parts of the nation based on consultation with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) headed by Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

"The idea of converting these coaches was to ensure that in rural areas, in regions where medical facilities were not available, care for COVID-19 patients could be provided. The health ministry would guide us and we will deploy these trains. We will maintain them and make sure they are in good condition," an official said.

There will be 10 coaches in each of these trains with each coach having a capacity to hold 16 patients and functioning as Level-1 COVID-19 Care Centre facilities.

The train will also consist of an air-conditioned coach for the doctors and other medical and healthcare staff.