Bengaluru, Apr 7 (IANS): Three railway hospitals in Karnataka are ready to treat coronavirus positive patients, an official said on Tuesday.

These hospitals at Bengaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi are now ready to meet any emergency arising out of spread of coronavirus," said a South Western Railway (SWR) spokesperson in a statement.

The Railways stepped up efforts to tackle the virus by increasing the number of ICU beds and ventilators needed for critical care.

At the Divisional Railway Hospital in Bengaluru, 50-bed facility with six ICU beds has been made operational.

"The entire hospital has been converted into a COVID-19 hospital. All the beds have piped oxygen supply. The ICU has three ventilators, six multi-para monitors, infusion pumps, defibrillator and others," said the statement.

The hospital is also arranging for three more ventilators.

At the Mysuru Divisional Railway Hospital, 74 of the 101 beds have been earmarked for corona patients, and has six monitors, two ventilators and other emergency equipment.

In Hubballi's Central Hospital, 30 of the 150 beds have been set aside for corona patients. Among the 30, eight are ICU beds. Four ventilators, six multi-para monitors, defibrillator and infusion pumps have been arranged.

According to SWR, all doctors and paramedical staff in the three hospitals have been trained to handle Covid patients in line with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines.