Maharashtra: ‘Hospital’ train for isolation and quarantine heads for Nagpur

Each modified sleeper coach can accommodate 16 patients at a time and a train with 11 coaches can accommodate 176 patients at one time

As cities fall short of beds, more trains are being used as hospitals for COVID-19 patients. After Nandurbar, another such train will be used at Nagpur. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner on Monday asked for a hospital train for isolation and quarantine. An 11-coach converted train, equipped with medical facilities, is being readied. The railways are also mobilising isolation coaches at Inland Container Depot at Ajni area, Maharashtra, as per the state demand.

How many patients?

Each modified sleeper coach can accommodate 16 patients at a time and a train with 11 coaches can accommodate 176 patients at one time. The train has been equipped with oxygen cylinders and basic medical equipment. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and the Nagpur Divisional Railway Manager's Office.

At Nandurbar, a 21-coach train has been stabled at platform no 3 for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients. At least 57 patients are currently utilising the facility, and 322 beds are still available. To reduce the heat, arrangements have been made out of available material from the local market with a unique and effective cooling system. A similar system has been put in place at Nagpur too. Basic arrangements like ambulances etc for shifting the patient shall be made available by the state with paramedic staff. The train will be provided water, proper electricity connections and maintenance.

"The coaches are equipped with the necessary medical infrastructure by the state health authorities with railways devising segmentation of space and utility for medical personnel in line with the MoU, besides taking care of sanitation and catering arrangements," a Central Railway spokesperson said.

‘Clean train before returning it'

He said that when the train is handed back to the railways, it should be ensured that all biomedical waste bins are cleaned and emptied; the train cleaned and disinfected as per protocol issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time-to-time, and locked till further orders.