As part of COVID-19 preparedness, Indian Railways has decided to modify 20000 coaches into quarantine/ isolation coaches to augment the quarantine facilities being created in the country. These modified 20000 coaches can accommodate up to 3.2 lakh possible beds for isolation needs.
In this connection, consultations were held with Armed Forces Medical Services, Medical Department of various Zonal Railways, and Ayushman Bharat, Ministry of Health, Government of India. Five Zonal Railways have already prepared prototypes for the quarantine/ isolation coaches.
Reportedly, work on modification of 5000 coaches, which are to be converted initially into quarantine/ isolation coaches has already started. These 5000 coaches would be having a capacity to accommodate up to 80000 beds. One coach is expected to have 16 beds for isolation.
Only Non-AC ICF sleeper coaches are being planned to be utilized for conversion into Quarantine/ isolation coaches. One Indian style toilet is to be converted into a bathing room. It is to be equipped with bucket, mug and soap dispenser. Taps with lift type handle would be provided in washbasins. Similar tap will be provided at proper height so that buckets can be filled.
The first cabin near the bathing room shall be provided with two hospital/ plastic curtains transversely in the aisle so that the entry and exit to the entire eight berth cabins can be screened off. This cabin will be used as a store/paramedics area. Two Oxygen cylinders will also be provided by the Medical department for which suitable clamping arrangement on the side berth side of this cabin is to be provided.
Both middle berths are to be removed in each cabin. Extra bottle holders shall be provided in each cabin for holding medical equipment, two for each berth. Extra 3 peg coat hooks, 2 per cabin to be provided. Mosquito net to be provided on windows to avoid mosquito entry inside and have proper ventilation too. Each cabin will be provided with 3 dustbins with foot-operated lids of Red, Blue and Yellow Colour suitably lined with garbage bags.
For insulation of the coaches, Bamboo/Khus mats may be affixed/ pasted on the roof and each side of coach above and below windows to shield the effect of heat inside the coach. All charging points for laptop and mobile to be functional. It must be ensured that all amenity fittings are in place whenever the coaches are requisitioned.
Of the initial 5000 coaches, zone wise allocation for converting these coaches is as follows:
Director-General, Railway Health Services will issue detailed SOP for operation and use of these quarantine/isolation coaches/trains. The Zonal Railways have been advised to plan for the above modifications immediately and inform the date of readiness of these rakes to Railway Board.
The Indian Railways had transferred 5,231 coaches into isolation wards for novel coronavirus patients. In May this year, it was decided that these coaches will be stationed at 215 stations across the country.
A senior Railway Ministry official said on Thursday, "As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, few state governments have sent requisitions to the Indian Railways."
The official said that the national transporter has received request from Uttar Pradesh for stationing the isolation ward coaches at 24 stations in the state.
The official said that the Railways has also received requests for 60 isolation coaches to be station at Secunderabad, Kachiguda nad Adilabad stations in Telangana.
The official further said that on the request of the Delhi government, 10 isolation coaches have been stationed at the Shakurbasti railway station.
On May 7, the Union Health Ministry had said that train coaches will be turned into coronavirus care centres and parked at 215 stations across the country as part of the preparation for a sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases in the country.
According to the Railway Ministry, these coaches can be used in areas where the state has exhausted the facilities and needs to augment capacities for isolation of both suspect and confirmed Covid-19 cases.
The Railway Ministry official said that out of 215 stations, the Railways will provide healthcare facilities in 85 stations. "In the rest 130 stations, states to requisition Covid-19 care coaches only if they are able to provide staff and essential medicines," he said.
He said the railways has kept 158 stations ready with watering and charging facility and 57 stations with watering facility for the Covid-19 care centres.
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(IANS)