COVID-19: Indian Railways converts 2,500 coaches into isolation wards

A worker prepares a train coach to be converted into isolation ward for COVID-19 patients, at Kamakhya Railway Station in Guwahati, Monday, March 30, 2020. (PTI Photo)

Indian Railways has already converted 2,500 coaches into isolation ward to treat COVID-19 patients.

Of the target to convert 5,000 coaches into an isolation ward, railways already converted 2,500 coaches into isolation ward in the first phase, said railway officials.

With the conversion of around 2,500 coaches, 40,000 isolation beds are now ready for use, railways said in a statement.

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"Once the prototype was approved, conversion action was started quickly by Zonal Railways. On average, 375 coaches are being converted by Indian Railways in a day. The work is being carried out at 133 locations in the country," it said.

These isolation wards are being prepared to supplement the existing hospital to treat patients in case large scale breakout of disease.

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