Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Ministry of Railways is swiftly meeting the State Governments’ demand for the facility of Covid Care coaches during the raging second spell of Covid pandemic with its fleet of 4,000 coaches (retrofitted as isolation units) with a capacity of 64000 beds. As per data available, these facilities are seeing a steady intake registering a cumulative admission of 81 Covid patients and subsequent discharge of 22 patients. None of the facilities have registered any casualties.
The updated position of the utility of these coaches positioned at nine major stations in the States of Delhi, UP, MP and Maharashtra are as follows:
In Delhi, the Railway has catered to the State Governments’ full demand for 75 Covid Care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds. 50 coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 coaches at Anand Vihar stations. At present, 5 patients were admitted at Shakurbasti and one patient discharged. In the first Covid wave last year (2020), 857 patients were admitted and discharged at Shakurbasti facility, according to a PIB release.
In Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), the Railway has deployed 20 Isolation Coaches with a capacity of 292 beds. Three patients were admitted and are presently utilising the facility.
In Nandurbar (Maharashtra), 24 Isolation Coaches with a capacity of 292 beds have been deployed. This facility has registered 73 admissions till date. Of the 55 patients’ admissions in the current Covid spell, 7 patients have been discharged. Four new admissions were recorded during the day (April 26, 2021). The Unit has 326 beds still available for Covid patients.
In UP, though coaches have not yet been requisitioned by State Govt, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli & Nazibabad totalling to a capacity of 800 beds (50 coaches).