Chief minister wants DRDO hospital operational in 48 hrs

LUCKNOW: The trial run of Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) 450-bed makeshift Covid-19 hospital at Awadh Shilp Gram in Lucknow was carried out on Friday even as chief minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the hospital and directed officials to make it operational within 48 hours.

DRDO is yet to announce the date from which the hospital will start admitting Covid-19 patients. Officials said the trial run was carried out successfully by defence doctors and experts in the presence of the chief minister.

“The trial run was carried out by our doctors. It was ensured that all logistics are in place. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, too, visited the hospital on the day to review the ongoing preparations,” said Dr Narendra Kumar Arya, director, Directorate of Public Interface (DPI).

Besides, DRDO officials said the hospital would be run by army doctors and state government doctors jointly. They also said the hospital, where more than 90% of the total work has been already completed, would

The trial run was carried out by our doctors. It was ensured that all logistics are in place. CM Yogi, too, visited the hospital on the day to review the ongoing preparations DR NARENDRA KUMAR ARYA, director, DPI

be a boon in minimising the fatalities in the state capital.

Arya said of the total 450 beds, 150 would serve as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and they would be equipped with ventilators, liquid oxygen connectivity and other life-saving logistics. The others will be regular beds.

“It will be as per WHO guidelines. We are specialised in setting up ICU beds,” Arya added.

Like DRDO’s 450-bed Covid hospital, the city would get another makeshift 250-bed Covid hospital that would come up at the Haj House.