Army sets up 100-bed hospital dedicated to COVID-19 patients in Chandigarh

The Western Command of the Indian Army on Monday made functional a 100-bedded hospital in Chandigarh dedicated for the treatment of civilian COVID-19 patients.

The hospital has been set up at the International Students’ Hostel of Panjab University in Sector 25 campus under ‘Operation Namaste’, on the request of Chandigarh administration after the city saw an unprecedented spike in the corona cases.

The Army launched its operation on a war footing and shifted its field hospital along with the equipment and staff from Himachal Pradesh to Chandigarh.

The hospital was inaugurated by VP Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, today.

Lt. Gen RP Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, who was also present on the occasion, highlighted the efforts put in by the Army and the civil administration as well, in the early operationalisation of the hospital. Lt. Gen. Singh also assured all support to the Chandigarh administration besides governments of Punjab and Haryana in fighting against the virus.

Similar 100-bed facilities would also be made operational by the Indian Army at Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, Faridabad, and Rajindra Government Hospital, Patiala, on May 11 and May 12, respectively.

Following ICMR guidelines, the Army has deployed its doctors, nursing officers and paramedics for a holistic treatment to patients. The civil administration, on the other hand, is facilitating essential amenities, service management, uninterrupted oxygen supply, patient admission and discharge processes and ambulance services at these hospitals.