Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 2: Twenty railway coaches have arrived at the central railway station here. Two of these coaches have already been transformed into isolation wards for coronavirus suspects. The other coaches also would be converted into isolation wards in about a week's time.

The coaches will be kept at the second entry of central railway station, after which they will be handed over to health department, said public relations officer of souther railway's Palakkad division Gopinathan, on Wednesday April 1.

Indian Railway, Konkan Railway Corporation and Southern Railway have already issued circulars about opening of isolation wards in railway compartments.

The central government is compelled to set up isolation wards at the railway station as the number of coronavirus infection cases has been increasing in the district, which shares state border with Kerala. People of Kasargod district have been relying on Mangaluru for medical services, and a number of coronavirus affected persons from that state are being treated here.

The sleeper coaches are being converted by removing seats and providing quarantine facilities with toilets, bathrooms etc by modifying coach designs. These coaches also will have spaces for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff besides arrangements to fix medical equipment.