Mysore/Mysuru: Indian Railways is ready to allow the District Administration its isolation facility created in 128 coaches in Mysuru city to treat COVID-19 patients.

“We have already informed the District Administration about it. They can use facility at any time. However, the coaches will be stationed at one place and cannot be move to other places,” Aparna Garg, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railway, Mysuru Division, told Star of Mysore.

With a view to treat Corona positive patients in isolation, the Mysuru Division had created Isolation Wards in 128 coaches fearing the shortage of beds in hospitals in the event of outbreak of pandemic across the country.

The State Government used Government Hospitals, ESI and private hospitals to treat Corona positive patients, but it did not think of using the Isolation Wards created by Railways. Besides, allowing Corona positive patients to take treatment at home resulted in lack of demand for the Railway Isolation Ward.

As many as 90 coaches available at Ashokapuram Railway Workshop and 38 old sleeper class bogies at Carriage Depot were re-designed. Provision has been made for 7-8 persons in each coach with medical facilities. Each coach is fitted with sufficient number of beds, cots, tables, screen, toilet, bath rooms, wash basin and dustbins. Such coaches are stationed in 13 districts which come under Mysuru Division. Already, these coaches were being used in Hassan and other places.

The biggest question here is why cannot Mysuru District Administration use this facility when Corona positive patients are striving hard to get beds in the Government Hospitals.