The Indian Railways, which prepared 5,231 isolation ward coaches for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) patients, has deployed 960 isolation coaches in five states including 503 in the national capital.
A railway ministry spokesperson said, "As of now, railways has deployed a total of 960 Covid-19 care coaches in five states Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh."
He said, out of 960 isolation ward coaches, 503 have been deployed in Delhi, 20 in Andhra Pradesh, 60 in Telangana, 372 in Uttar Pradesh and five in Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking to media, Northern Railway General Manager Rajiv Chaudhary said, "In Delhi, 503 coaches are deployed at nine locations." He said 50 isolation ward coaches are deployed at Shakurbasti, 267 at Anand Vihar, 21 at Safdarjung, 50 at Sarai Rohilla, 33 at Delhi Cantt, 30 at Adarsh Nagar, 13 at Shahadra, 13 at Tughlakabad and 26 at Patel Nagar.
He further said that the railways has made adequate arrangement for the cooling of the sleeper isolation ward coaches looking at the scorching summer heat of the national capital. Chaudhary said, "Arrangement for cooling the coaches is being made. At Shakur Basti railway station, the coaches are placed under the roof top. While at other places we are working on the idea of sprinkling water, fans on the platforms towards the coaches and providing insulation paint on the roof top to bring down the temperature."
He also said that the coaches used for the isolation ward are the general coaches, which have neared their service life.
He said, "After the Covid-19 crisis, these coaches can be sent back to the train services either as a two tier sleeper coach or as general coaches."
The railway ministry official said that besides Delhi, in Uttar Pradesh, 372 isolation ward coaches have been deployed at 23 different locations at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Lucknow, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Faizabad, Saharanpur, Mirzapur, Subedarganj, Kanpur, Jhansi, Jhansi Workshop, Agra, Nakha Jungle, Gonda, Nautanwa, Bahraich, Varanasi City, Manduadih, Mau, Bhatni, Bareilly City, Farrukhabad and Kasganj railway station.
While in Madhya Pradesh, total five isolation ward coaches are deployed at Gwalior.
The official further said that in Andhra Pradesh, total 20 isolation ward coaches were deployed at Vijayawada while in Telangana, 60 coaches are deployed at three different locations Secunderabad, Kachguda and Adilabad railway stations.
Chaudhary further said that the railways will also keep the medicines for level 1 Covid-19 patients ready, and will have railway doctor at station or group of stations. "One doctor will always be on round to look after the patients," Chaudhary added.
When asked from when the Covid-19 patients will be shifted to the isolation ward coaches, Chaudhary said, "Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited one of our coaches today and they will take a call on the same as we have arranged the coaches on the railway stations."
( With inputs from IANS )