NEW DELHI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Indian railways Tuesday said it was ready to modify 20,000 coaches into quarantine isolation units to increase the quarantine facilities in the country.

The railways said five zones have already prepared prototypes for the quarantine or isolation coaches.

"These modified 20,000 coaches can accommodate up to 320,000 possible beds for isolation needs. Work on modification of 5,000 coaches, which are to be converted initially into quarantine or isolation coaches has already started," reads a statement from the railways ministry. "These 5,000 coaches would be having a capacity to accommodate up to 80,000 beds."

Officials said one coach is expected to have 16 beds for isolation.

The isolation coaches being prepared for COVID-19 patients will be equipped with all necessary facilities, as per medical guidelines.

The death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 32 as the number of confirmed cases in the country reached 1,251, the federal health ministry said Tuesday.

Tuesday marks the seventh straight day of an ongoing 21-day lockdown across the country to contain the spread of the pandemic. Authorities have imposed strict curfew-like restrictions to prevent the movement of people across the country.

All road, rail and air services have been suspended in wake of the lockdown, except essential services. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)