#Covid19: Railways Will Convert Thousands Of Coaches Into Isolation Ward; Here’s The Prototype

Finally, Indian Railways has come with the prototypes of COVID-19 coaches, after announcing earlier that it will convert its passenger coaches into isolation units to keep the COVID-19 patients.

How Did It Go?

As per the reports, the five zonal railways which include the Northern Railway, Southern Railway and North-East Frontier Railway have already prepared the prototypes of such coaches.

As per the statement issued by the Railway board, 5000 coaches will be initially converted into isolation wards.

Further, the Railways is in talks with Armed Forces Medical Services, Ayushman Bharat on setting up isolation wards in coaches to treat COVID-19 patients.

Moreover, the Northern Railway zone in a statement has said that it has already converted 16 LHB coaches into isolation coaches for the patients of COVID-19.

Also, another 20 LHB coaches will be ready by 31 March including 2 ICF coaches as well in the railway workshop. 

Further, they said that one rake of 10 coaches will be converted into an isolation facility within one week time.

Why Would This Happen?

Basically, Indian Railways is converting train coaches into isolation wards to prepare for a fight against coronavirus to meet the increasing demand for beds.

Accordingly, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has started converting coaches into isolation wards at the Coach Maintenance Depot in Kamakhya and Guwahati after consulting medical professionals at its N. F. Railway Central Hospital, Maligaon. Non-AC sleeper coaches are being converted into isolation wards for patients.

What Changes Have Been Brought In Railway Coaches?

An official said “Each cabin of the coach has been converted into an independent isolation ward which shall accommodate one patient. There are nine such cabins in one coach. The following modifications have been done in each coach. Middle berths have been removed from these cabins for keeping two feet bed space on the berths,”.

“Extra bottle holders and electric points are provided for medicines, IV Fluids and medical equipment like oscilloscope monitors, suction apparatus, etc. A foldable stool is available under the berth for keeping the medical equipment as and when required,” Further they said.

Also, Air Plastic curtains have been placed between two cabins for privacy and isolation and the side berth end panel walls of the coach near the entry/exit doors have been removed for easy access of the stretcher.

The release said “One of the four toilets of the coach has been converted into a bathroom with a facility for shower, bucket, and mug. Insulated bamboo sheets put up on the roof and the sidewalls of the coach for reducing the heat transfer and temperature inside the isolation ward,”.

Apart from that, the three production units belonging to Southern Railways have been assigned the task of converting one train coach as an isolation ward for Coronavirus patients, said an official.

Further, the official said, Perambur Loco Works, Perambur Carriage Works both located here and the Golden Rock Workshop in Trichy will be converting one coach each as a prototype for Coronavirus ward.

Also, all the middle berths in the coaches and the ladders to climb on to middle and upper berths would be removed for easier movement.

There will be an extra bottle holder and there will be 230V sockets in each cabin, the official said.

Also, there will be a plastic curtain for each cabin as a measure of isolation.

Further, the partition on the end side next to the main doorway will be removed on each end.

Indian Railways have already coaches with fully equipped operation theatres which are used to treat the injured in train accidents according to an official.

Image Source – livemint