False: The Indian armed forces built a 1000-bed COVID-19 care hospital in Mumbai.

By: Prajwal M
May 5 2021

Share Article:

The hospital was set up by Defence Research and Development Organisation with assistance from armed forces in New Delhi and not in Mumbai. A viral post on social media stated that the armed forces have set up a 1000-bed COVID-19 care hospital near Mumbai airport. PRO Defence Mumbai debunked the narrative on Twitter, calling the forward to be false and baseless. On April 19, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) reopened its Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID-19 Hospital in the Delhi Cantonment area, according to the Hindustan Times. During the first week of February 2021, when the COVID-19 cases were fewer, the facility was shut down. With the rise in the number of cases, the facility has been relocated to Delhi's domestic airport terminal. The 1,000-bed DRDO medical facility has 500 ICU beds to treat patients, with the medical team drawn from the armed forces. The hospital, which became operational in July 2020, was built in a record time of 12 days by DRDO with support from the armed forces, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Tata Trusts. On April 24, 2021, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted saying, ''DRDO is adding another 250 beds later in the evening today at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital in New Delhi, taking the total number of beds to 500.'' Therefore, the COVID-19 care hospital established by DRDO is located near a domestic airport terminal in New Delhi and not in Mumbai. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.