NEW DELHI: Warned of a possible chemical attack in the Capital, major hospitals in the city including Safdurjung, LNJP and Ram Manohar Lohia have been equipped with specially designed enclosures to disinfect and start specific first-line treatment of victims.

Orders to prepare for a possible chemical attack were issued over the weekend after top health officials met heads of various hospitals in the Capital. Accordingly to a health official, meetings are being organised every day to chalk out, update and review the action plan in case of a medical emergency.

While this is the first time that medical establishments have been specifically told to prepare for an attack of this nature, training to deal with this began over two years ago with medical personnel being trained to combat nuclear biological and chemical warfare.

"With specific inputs of a chemical attack, hospitals have been asked to be prepared with treatment and to ensure that the people working in the hospitals and other patients are not infected or contaminated in any manner. This year the Union Health Ministry has issued specific warning and has asked hospitals to be extra cautious and prepared. Auxiliary services and extra manpower have been kept on stand by,'' said a health official.

He said hospitals had created an exclusive zone in their casualty wards for any patients coming in after chemical attacks. "Here they would be sprinkled and disinfected and given sterilised hospital clothes before being admitted for further treatment. We have already put in place water tankers and sprinklers and sterilised the area for patient use. Trained doctors too would be on duty to take care of such patients.''

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