Work is underway to convert 30 Railway coaches into isolation wards at Silchar Railway Station

Indian Railways has not sat ideal in this time of crisis rather making its all out effort to assist the nation in containing the deadly virus. Though passenger trains are not rolling, freight train movements have increased, since lockdown, so as there is no shortage of commodities during the period.

Apart from it, Railways have also taken initiative to modify its 20,000 coaches into quarantine/ isolation coaches for COVID-19. These coaches, once ready, can accommodate upto 3.2 lac possible beds for isolation needs.

Northeast Frontier Railway has set target of modifying 315 coaches by equipping them with basic facilities needed for the isolation, as per medical guidelines, for placement in various locations. All these will be made within the next seven days on a war footing in various workshops. Accordingly Silchar Railway station will be modifying 30 coaches to isolation coach.

The coaches will be equipped with mosquito nets, charging points for mobiles and laptops, space for paramedics and medical equipment etc.

Talking to media, Silchar Coaching and Depot officer, Rabindra Pathar said that seven coaches will be completed by today and remaining will be done in next 7 days. “We are proceeding as per direction received from headquarter. These coaches will bring enough mobility. They can be taken to any part of the country on short time interval.”