The ongoing heavy rainfall in Odisha has brought to light the state’s healthcare infrastructure’s fragility. The Patnagarh government hospital in the Balangir district saw water flooding into its wards and rooms, impacting the patients. The water reached the beds of patients, causing significant hardship to the patients and their families.
The flooding at the hospital highlights failures within the administration. The images and videos from the hospital show the extent of the flooding and show how the movement of people was disrupted. The drainage system was completely ineffective. There was a failure to clean the drainage and this resulted in water entering the hospital buildings.
This incident occurred in the constituency of Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. This has led to questions regarding the government’s and hospital administration’s commitment to patient safety. Local residents are voicing concerns that the situation could have been avoided if the hospital administration had been prepared for heavy rainfall.
During the intense rainfall, there was no proper water drainage system. Some sanitation workers were seen trying to remove the water with the help of wipers and buckets, but that was not effective. Many patients had to be moved to the verandas outside the wards, where the security situation was unsatisfactory.
The patients and their families have shown their discontent. Patients are complaining that instead of getting treatment, they are struggling to keep themselves from getting wet. The families also blame the hospital administration for their troubles, due to negligence. They have also said that there is no place to stand.
The monsoon season is still ongoing and if the administration does not take quick action, the situation could worsen. The people want the hospital’s infrastructure to be improved, for the drains to be cleaned and for the authorities to arrange for water removal equipment. The situation at the Patnagarh hospital has questioned the local health services and the insensitivity of the administration in the Deputy Chief Minister’s constituency.