Intense rainfall in Odisha has exposed the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure. At the Patnagarh government hospital in Balangir district, rainwater inundated wards and rooms, severely impacting patients. Water reached patients’ beds, causing significant distress to patients and their families.
The flooding of a hospital, a critical care environment, highlights administrative negligence. Images and videos from the hospital clearly depict the extent of the flooding, with waterlogged areas hindering movement. The drainage system has completely failed. Failure to clean the drains in a timely manner resulted in water entering the hospital instead of being diverted away.
Notably, this incident occurred in the constituency of Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. This raises concerns about the government’s and hospital administration’s commitment to patient safety. Local residents have expressed the view that the situation could have been avoided with proactive measures by the hospital administration.
No effective water drainage system was apparent during the heavy rainfall. Only a few sanitation workers were observed attempting to remove rainwater with wipers and buckets, which proved inadequate. Many patients were forced to relocate to the verandas outside the wards, where security conditions were also unsatisfactory.
Patients and their families have expressed their displeasure. Patients report that instead of receiving treatment, they are now struggling to stay dry and manage their health. Family members accuse the hospital administration of negligence, leading to their unnecessary suffering. They described a lack of dry space, with water everywhere, making movement difficult.
With the monsoon season ongoing, failure to take immediate action could worsen the situation. People are demanding urgent improvements in hospital facilities, including drain cleaning and the installation of water removal equipment. The situation at Patnagarh Hospital has raised questions about local health services and the administration’s insensitivity in the Deputy Chief Minister’s constituency.
