The Indian Railways on Monday said it will convert 5,000 rail coaches into isolation wards to combat the spread of coronavirus.
A senior railway ministry official said that in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the national transporter is making all-out efforts to supplement the health care efforts of the Centre.
He said the spectrum of steps include modification of passenger coaches as isolation coaches, equipping the existing Railway Hospitals to meet the Covid-19 needs, earmarking of hospital beds to meet the contingencies, recruitment of additional doctors and paramedics etc.
"All these facilities will be made available as mandated by the central government to those in need. The preparations are being done across all the zones under the supervision of General Managers and medical professionals of Indian Railways," he said.
"Indian Railways is planning to initially modify 5,000 passenger coaches to meet the requirement of any possible exigency of keeping some Covid-19 patients in isolation as and when required by the government," the official said.
The official pointed out that these coaches would be equipped with basic facilities needed for isolation as per medical guidelines.
"In case need be, more coaches can be modified," he said, adding that coaches are also going to be equipped with mosquito nets, charging points for mobiles and laptops, space for paramedics etc.
"These coaches would be prepared zone-wise," he said.
Earlier in the day, Northern Railway said that it has converted 16 LHB coaches into isolation wards and two more IVF coaches to be converted as isolation wards by Tuesday.
The ministry in a statement later said that railways has 125 hospitals in India and of that more than 70 are being planned to be kept ready to be for any contingency as and when required.
"Efforts are being made to designate dedicated Covid-19 wards or floors in these hospitals.
"Approximately 6,500 hospital beds are being made ready to meet the possible needs of patients," the ministry said.
It further said that Indian Railways has already given a go ahead to zonal heads to explore the possibility of hiring doctors and paramedics from the market and also to re-employ retired railway doctors as a temporary measure to meet the increased requirement of medical supervision and assist the authorities in charge of COVID-19 control management in the region.
These efforts of Indian Railways have been mounted not only to supplement the efforts of the government of India but also to contribute to the national efforts to fight Covid-19.
Tripura closes all schools for 4 days due to heat wave conditions
With the state buffeted by a heat wave, the Tripura government on Wednesday declared a holiday in all schools for four days from Wednesday to provide respite to children.
All three units of EVMs have their own microcontroller, ECI tells SC
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday apprised the Supreme Court that all three units (i.e. ballot unit, control unit and VVPAT) of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have their own microcontroller.
Congress ready to set 'dangerous precedent' by implementing Inheritance Tax: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday slammed the Congress, saying that the party seeks to destroy the ordinary people of India economically and is about to set a "dangerous precedent" by implementing an 'Inheritance Tax' if voted to power.
PM Modi has lifted 400 million people out of poverty: JP Morgan CEO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken 400 million (40 crore) people out of poverty and is doing an “unbelievable job” in India, Global banking giant JP Morgan Chase chief executive officer (CEO) Jamie Dimon has said.
India to become one of biggest chip hubs in next 5 years: Ashwini Vaishnaw
India has commissioned four semiconductor manufacturing units and in the next five years, the country will become one of the biggest semiconductor hubs in the world, Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.
PM Modi highlights need for resilient infrastructure at 39-nation meet on natural disasters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday emphasised the need to invest in resilient infrastructure as part of the strategy to minimise the damage from natural disasters that are on the rise across the world.
India calls for ‘gender-responsive arms control’ to prevent sexual violence in conflicts
To combat sexual violence in conflict situations, India has advocated a multifaceted approach which includes “gender-responsive arms control” that prevents the proliferation of weapons.
Pressing UNSC reforms, India highlights consensus in G20 with broader membership
Pressing the case for Security Council reforms, India has highlighted the consensus arrived at the more representative G20 Summit on issues that could not make it through the UN's highest decision-making body stuck in a "cold war" mode.