Indian Railways may convert 20,000 coaches into isolation wards for COVID-19 patients

• The Railway Board has instructed zonal railways that they might be required to convert up to 20,000 coaches into isolation wards.
• It also said that the railways has held consultations with Armed Forces Medical Services, medical departments of various zonal railways, and Ayushman Bharat before taking the decision.
• Five zonal railways have already prepared prototypes for the same,

The Railway Board has instructed zonal railways that they might be required to convert up to 20,000 coaches into isolation wards as part of its preparedness to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to all the zonal general managers on Monday, the board has said that initially 5,000 coaches will be converted.

It also said that the railways has held consultations with Armed Forces Medical Services, medical departments of various zonal railways, and Ayushman Bharat before taking the decision.

Five zonal railways have already prepared prototypes for the same, it said.

"...As part of COVID-19 preparedness, it was advised in the video conference held on March 25 that a few rakes may be converted into quarantine/isolation coaches in consultation with the medical department, so as to augment the quarantine facilities being created. In this connection consultations were held with Armed Forces Medical Services, Medical Department of various zonal Railways, and Ayushman Bharat.

See also:
Inside photos of Indian Railways coaches turned into isolation wards for coronavirus patients