Bengaluru, Jul 15 (IANS): Hospitals across Karnataka have been told by the state government to be better equipped by October 15 to face Covid's third wave, expected to hit children badly.

The directive from the Health Department comes as the image of the ruling BJP was dented as people struggled to get beds across the state.

Steps have been taken to increase the number of beds, ensure oxygen supply and availability of ventilators at all major hospitals in Bengaluru as well as in district and taluka hospitals. The 16-member expert committee, headed by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, had already submitted an interim report in this connection. It is said that the third wave of Covid -- feared to target children -- will surface between September and October.

A total of 35 ICU, 75 HDU, 10 NICU beds are there at the Indira Gandhi Children's hospital in Bengaluru, where 470 beds are available for treatment. The government facilitated the establishment of a 100 bed PICU facility by joining hands with Cognizant here, while 50 beds are reserved for children at Vani Vilas hospital.

Doctors are also being trained to treat children. The process of hiring medical staff is also being accelerated. Efforts are on by hospitals to hire a sufficient number of paediatricians.