DRDO built 500-bed COVID hospital becomes operational in Srinagar

A 500-bed COVID Hospital built by the Defence Ministry’s research body DRDO at Khonmoh, Srinagar has become operational in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials informedon Saturday.

Funded by the PM CARES Fund and set up in a short span of 17 days, this facility has 125 ICU beds with ventilators, of which 25 are exclusively reserved for children. Continuous oxygen supply is available for all 500 beds from 62 KL Liquid Medical Oxygen storage tanks.

Hospital management and doctors and para-medical staff to run the facility are provided by the J&K administration.

“The hospital is centrally air conditioned with cooling provision for summers and heating capabilities during winters to maintain comfortable environment with a separate block for doctors and para-medical staff”, officials in DRDO said.

Proper fire exits in case of emergency, provision of steel structure shed having inside refrigerator for mortuary and parking facility for vehicles have also been provided at the centre, they added.

A control centre with Wi-Fi, CCTVs and helpline number has been established for proper monitoring and hospital management through modern system software. Due to cold weather, special arrangements have been made to accommodate 150 personnel including doctors, para-medical staff, pharmacy staff, security personnel and maintenance staff.

The hospital will provide medical care to Covid-19 patients in the UT of Jammu &Kashmir during pandemic time, the Defence Ministry said.