Western Railway charges in to aid India's Covid fight; 410 isolation coaches on their way

Western Railway on Friday said that it will convert around 410 train coaches to facilitate the isolation of suspected coronavirus patients at all its six divisions, including the Mumbai division.

READ: Indian Railways Ready To Modify 20,000 Coaches; Bifurcation Here

Western railways' coaches to be converted 

Ministry of Railway, in March, had announced that the coaches will be used as quarantine facilities in order to make up for the shortage of hospital beds. The Railways had suspended all passenger operations in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "A coach has been converted for isolation of possibly infected COVID-19 patients by Bhavnagar workshop of Western Railway. 410 coaches will be converted by Western Railway at all its 6 Divisions including Mumbai Division," officials said.

READ: 'Train Ticket Bookings Never Stopped Except For The Lockdown Period': Ministry Of Railways

A report stated that the trains would be transformed into holding centres for patients and paramedical staff who will be treating them. 

The Southern western railway will be converting 312 coaches into isolation wards as per prototype issues by the Railway board. The South Western Railway in a press statement further clarified that each coach would provide an eight-berth cabin for isolation facility and will be equipped with basic facilities needed as per medical guidelines, adding that provision for charging points of mobiles and laptops and mosquito nets with space for paramedics will also be looked into. 

READ: Railways Prepared To Modify Coaches For A Massive 320,000 Quarantine Beds: Health Ministry

In terms of facilities, the railways had said: "Only Non-AC ICF sleeper coaches are being planned to be utilised for conversion into Quarantine/ isolation coaches. One Indian style toilet is to be converted into a bathing room. It is to be equipped with a bucket, mug and soap dispenser. Taps with lift type handle would be provided in washbasins. A similar tap to be provided at the proper height so that the bucket can be filled."

READ: Railways Convert Coaches Into Isolation Wards Amid Pandemic Scare