Flooded ICU Houses Patients and Fishes Inside Patna's Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH)

Guwahati: Incessant rain in Bihar's Patna has not only troubled the residents of the city's populace living in low lying areas but also risked the lives of patients at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). On Saturday evening, water entered the hospital's ICU and general wards.

The ICU of NMCH was in the knee-deep water on Sunday with small fish and insects floating across the hospital. The nurses and paramedical staff of NMCH faced a tough time as they had to wade through the water to attend to patients. Many patients of the hospital have left to escape the unhygienic condition.

The hospital authorities expressed their helplessness saying that waterlogging is a perennial problem there as the hospital is situated in a low-lying area. NMCH Superintendent Anand Pratap Singh said that they are trying to pump out water.

Singh also said that the patients at the ICU where water has entered are being shifted to another ICU as many patients and their attendants complained of a foul smell due caused due to the waterlogging. An attendant at the ICU castigated the incident saying that the place has turned into a hell. She also said that with the fishes, there could be snakes too and such unhygienic conditions will make the patients sicker.

The hospital superintendent said that the authorities are taking all steps to pump out water, but it might take few days. They are providing an ambulance to patients who want to move to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

“We have sprinkled bleaching powder in the water... We have also had a talk with the Patna Municipal Corporation,” he added.

"The problem of waterlogging in NMCH is very common and it is expected to be solved by next year when the new building, where waterlogging will not be a problem, will become functional", he added.