Hyderabad, April 11 : With the COVID-19 crisis intensifying, the medical department of South Central Railway, has stepped up its preparedness for providing medical assistance in the region. The facilities include an array of quarantine facilities, treatment wards and COVID-19 training to medical staff. The 5 major hospitals and 44 health units functioning in the zone have been equipped with necessary infrastructure and health personnel equipped with necessary training. Ch Rakesh, chief PRO of SCR, said quarantine facilities have been established by converting the Railway facilities such as institutes, colleges and schools with a total of 862 quarantine beds set aside for the purpose. The facilities have been set up across the various divisions of the zone. This includes 142 beds in Secunderabad Division 142 beds, 129 beds in Vijayawada Division, 147 beds in Hyderabad Division, 234 beds in Guntakal Division, 125 beds in Guntur Division, and 85 beds in Nanded Division. All the doctors have been imparted briefing and were trained about the protocol procedure for treating the pandemic Covid 19 patients through video conferencing by Union Ministry of Health in coordination with Railway Board. Para Medical staff like nurses, lab technician, pharmacists, nursing assistants, hospital attendants of the zone have been trained and counseled about the precautions and steps to be taken while dealing with Covid -19 patients. Ch Rakesh also stated that separate isolation-cum-Covid wards have been set up with 142 beds at Central Hospital, Lallaguda, 100 beds at Railway Hospital, Vijayawada and A42 beds at Railway Hospital, Guntakal. In addition to the existing medical staff, the SCR zone is also recruiting doctors, nurses, hospital attendants, pharmacists and housekeeping staff on temporary basis by conducting online and phone interviews. /IANS