Patients Cry For Help As Patna Hospital Drowns In Flood Water, Fishes Seen Swimming Inside Waterlogged ICU

Following heavy rainfall in Patna, the Nalanda Medical College Hospital, which is considered as the second-largest government hospital in the state capital, has turned into an aquarium.

Patients were seen lying on the beds in the Intensive Care Unit while the room was inundated with rainwater. The eagle-eyed also spotted fish swimming in the waters inside the ICU with doctors and hospital staff wading through the water-logged room to treat patients. A staff member said there was additional fear of being electrocuted. She added that vital machines had been switched off to avoid any untoward incident. A TV channel tried contacting Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey but he is in Shimla to oversee the preparations for BJP chief Amit Shah’s visit.

The hospital is spread over 100 acres and has around 750 beds. The distressing visuals have turned the spotlight on the creaky infrastructure in Nitish Kular-ruled Bihar, an alliance that is sharing power with the BJP. Waterlogging was also reported outside the hospital. In fact, the water from the streets had seeped into the ICU. As per a media report, several attendees of the patients had to spend the night at the hospital fidgeting in waterlogged rooms, waiting for the water to subside by morning. However, the hospital premises continued to remain flooded. The India Meteorological Department has, meanwhile, issued a bulletin warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across several places in the state till August 1.

Speaking to ANI, a health department official said, “The process for throwing water out of the place is underway. A pumping plant is working continuously.” Incidentally, water-logging was also reported outside the residence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi.