Kolkata’s Popular Nicco Park To Be Converted Into A Makeshift COVID Hospital

by Suchismita Pal
Kolkata’s Popular Nicco Park To Be Converted Into A Makeshift COVID Hospital

The most popular amusement park in Kolkata, the Nicco Park will now be converted into a makeshift COVID hospital to cater to the increasing demand for beds and oxygen supply. The hospital will have a dedicated oxygen tank for the supply of piped oxygen to the beds of patients. Nicco Park, which is also sometimes referred to as the Disneyland of West Bengal, had opened its doors on October 13, 1991. It is located in Jheel Meel, Sector – IV of Salt Lake, Kolkata and spreads over an area of around 40 acres.

Kolkata Nicco Park COVID Hospital
Picture Credits: Times of India

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The Hospital Will Have A Dedicated Oxygen Tank

Nicco Park has been one of the prime entertainment destinations of the people of Kolkata for three decades. It houses a plethora of rides like paddle boat, water coaster, toy train, tilt-a-whirl, striking cars, river cave, flying saucer and many more. The park is also home to one of the highest roller coaster rides in Asia, the Giant Cyclone. Now, to cater to the need of the hour, the amusement park will be turned into a COVID hospital with a dedicated oxygen tank. On April 27, 2021, the Nicco Park administration had announced its closure till May 7 taking into account the alarming surge in virus cases. On April 28, West Bengal reported around 17,207 new cases taking the number of active cases in the state to over 1.05 lakhs.

Kolkata Nicco Park COVID Hospital
Picture Credits: Times Now and Prajavani

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Kishore Bharati Stadium And Belur Math Also Turned Into COVID Hospitals

Besides Nicco Park, similar arrangements are being made in some other establishments of the city too. Santoshpur’s Kishore Bharati Stadium and Howrah’s Belur Math have also been converted into COVID hospitals. There have been talks to launch a similar facility at Kasba’s Gitanjali Stadium too. Kishore Bharati Stadium will receive an oxygen plant for piped supply. It will become the annexe COVID unit of Medica with 100 HDU beds, for treating patients with emergency oxygen support. For mildly symptomatic but comorbid patients, authorities will arrange 100 more beds, said Alok Roy, chairman of Medica Group of Hospitals, according to a Times of India report. In West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas, the Canning Stadium is also treating COVID-19 patients. It was converted into a COVID hospital a year ago.

Kolkata Nicco Park COVID Hospital
Picture Credits: Facebook/Billwamongal Roy

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Authorities Have Set Up Oxygen Plants And Tanks Across The State

The authorities have installed 55 new oxygen plants across the state to supply oxygen to the hospitals. Also, to reduce dependency on commercial oxygen, liquid medical oxygen tanks are being set up in medical colleges and hospitals. Amid the trying times, hundreds of people are coming forward to offer help in whatever ways they can. A small group of individuals, who are having full-time jobs, have come up with a platform with details of beds, ventilators, oxygen rent, plasma donation, COVID testing, home care facilities, meals delivery and more in West Bengal.

Kolkata Nicco Park COVID Hospital
Picture Credits: Headtopics

They have crowdsourced the contacts on the covidresourceswestbengal.carrd.co website and have been updating the list from time to time. Also, West Bengal’s Swasthya Bhawan has released helpline number 1800-313444-222, where patients can call up to get beds.

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The virus is spreading like wildfire. The doctors and frontliners are working day and night to put the pandemic at bay. So, step out only when it is absolutely necessary. Wear your masks and stay safe.