As India is battling the scourge of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Piyush Goyal-led Indian Railways is deploying Covid care isolation coaches, already devised during the initial wave of novel coronavirus outbreak with add-on conveniences. These Covid care isolation coaches have been readied as a measure of preparedness to serve as an additional health care facility for the isolation of Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms.
To cater to the current hot weather conditions, these coaches have been now additionally fitted with conveniences viz. coolers, jute-mats, according to the Railway Ministry. The state governments, in this regard, have been advised on the modalities and SOP in place and the availability of Covid care isolation coaches.
The Ministry of Railways is swiftly meeting the state governments’ demand for the facility of Covid care coaches during the current raging second spell of the pandemic with its fleet of 4,000 coaches (retrofitted as isolation units) with a capacity of 64,000 beds. As per currently available data, these facilities are seeing a steady intake registering a cumulative admission of 81 Covid patients and their subsequent discharge of 22 patients. None of the facilities have registered any casualties.
In Delhi, the Railway has catered to the full demand of state governments’ demand for 75 Covid care coaches with a capacity of 1200 beds. A total of 50 coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 coaches at AnandVihar stations. Presently, five patients have been admitted at Shakurbasti and one patient has been discharged. In the first Covid wave last year (2020), 857 patients were admitted and discharged at Shakurbasti facility.
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 Nandrubar (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, seven patients have been discharged. Four new admissions were recorded on Monday. The unit has 326 beds still available for Covid patients. In UP, though coaches have not yet been requisitioned by state government, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli, and Nazibabad totalling to a capacity of 800 beds (50 coaches).
Meanwhile, the first train of empty tankers left for Vizag from Mumbai Region just a few days back , Indian Railways has transported more than 302 MT of Oxygen safely and securely to various states across India. Another 154 MT liquid medical oxygen is on its way. Railways have picked up the challenge of movement of the life-saving Oxygen to the states wanting oxygen.
One Oxygen Express train, carrying four tankers, is expected to reach Delhi from Raigarh (Chhattisgarh) by Monday. For the residents of Maharashtra, a train carrying 44 MT (in three tankers) has reached Kalamboli (near Mumbai) from Hapa (Rajkot, Gujarat) on Monday. Another Oxygen express is currently on the run from Bokaro (Jharkhand) to Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) carrying 90 MT of LMO (in 5 tankers) and is expected to reach Lucknow by early morning Tuesday. Another empty rake will depart from Lucknow to Bokaro to bring one more set of Oxygen tankers.
Railways is responding to all requests received from state governments and is in constant touch with the respective authorities for additional oxygen train requirements.