Indian Railways Deploys 4,000 COVID-19 Care Coaches With 64,000 Beds Across The Country

The Indian Railways has deployed around 4,000 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 64,000 beds at different railway stations across the nation in a bid to support the State Governments in coping with the surge in fresh COVID-19 cases in the country, reports Economic Times.

During the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, the Ministry of Railways had begun to convert the Indian Railways' coaches into isolation units. Following the scathing fresh wave, the coaches have again been put into use to cater to patients who have mild symptoms.

As many as 50 coaches with a capacity of 800 beds are deployed at Shakurbasti station alone. However, it should be noted that as of now, only four patients are admitted in the coaches. Another 25 coaches with a capacity of 400 beds have been stationed at Anand Vihar Terminal.

Similarly, 20 coaches have been positioned at Bhopal and another 20 at Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh. As many as 50 coaches have been readied for Punjab. Also, 21 coaches with 378 beds have been positioned at Maharashtra's Nandubar.

A statement by the Ministry sharing the details said that the coaches have been readied to serve as additional health care facilities for isolation of COVID-19 positive patients with mild symptoms.