Northeast Frontier Railway to convert 315 coaches into isolation wards

rast Frontier Railway on Tuesday said it will convert 315 coaches into isolation wards to supplement medical requirements for treating COVID-19 patients.

converted coaches will be equipped with basic facilities needed for isolation as per medical guidelines, rast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Subhanan Chanda said in a statement.

"NFR will be modifying 315 coaches for placement in various locations. If needed, more coaches can be modified," he ded. se coaches are going to be equipped with mosquito nets, charging points for mobiles and laptop, for paramedics among ors, Chanda said.

"se coaches will be prepared zone-wise. Placement of coaches will be tified by Railway Board in due course as per need. One Isolation coach will have nine beds, one bathroom and three toilets for use by patients," he ded.

Indian Railways is planning to modify 5,000 passenger coaches in first phase to meet requirement of any possible exigency for keeping vel coronavirus patients in isolation.

re are 125 hospitals under Indian Railways across India and more than 70 of m are being planned to be kept rey for any COVID-19 related contingency.

"Efforts are being me to designate dedicated COVID wards or floors in se hospitals. Approximately 6,500 hospital beds are being me rey to meet possible needs of patients," Chanda informed.

Indian Railways has alrey given permission to all zones to explore possibility of hiring doctors and paramedics, and also to re-employ retired railway doctors as a temporary measure to meet increased requirement to man COVID-19 pandemic.

Im: ANI