Bhubaneswar: Even though electricity has been restored at the Capital Hospital, which bore the brunt of the devastating cyclonic storm Fani, water still remains an issue for the patients and their attendants here.
The cyclone had paralysed healthcare services at the hospital as the utility poles on hospital premises were uprooted. Emergency services like CT scan, ultrasound, dialysis and endoscopy came to a grinding halt. The electricity was restored Monday morning, giving relief to the patients and attendants.
However, drinking water still remains a major issue there. Patients and their attendants are running here and there for a bottle of drinking water as water is not being supplied to the tank properly due to cracks developed in the pipes following the storm. The water tank is also leaking due to cracks in it.
Reportedly, nearby slum dwellers are creating chaos at a pump-house near the director of Capital Hospital. They have been using the water for several purposes and taking away gallons of water from there to their houses. They are also picking up quarrels with patients’ attendants and had destroyed a tap Sunday following which the hospital authorities have deployed security guards at the pump-house.
Capital Hospital director Ashok Patnaik said, “Electricity has been restored at the hospital on a war-footing. Water supply will be regularised within a couple of days as the repair work is in full swing. The slum dwellers are a headache now as they are using the water for bathing and other purposes. Steps are being taken to restore water supply as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, apart from patients and their attendants, many outsiders are thronging the hospital to charge their cell phones. Rush is witnessed at several departments and rooms. People are bringing extension boards with them for charging their cell phones as there are insufficient charging points at the hospital.
Some people are also bringing power banks, rechargeable fans, battery chargers and queuing up here for long hours. It is seen that 10-15 mobiles are being charged at one plug point. This is causing power outage too.
Moreover, patients and attendants are shelling out more on food stuffs and water at the restaurants and shop on hospital premises. While water is being sold at Rs 30 per 1 litre bottle, meals are being sold at Rs 60 instead of Rs 30 earlier. Similarly, prices of other essential commodities have also escalated.