Waterlogging in Rajindra Hospital causes inconvenience to staff, patients

Often in news for the wrong reasons, Rajindra Hospital, the premier health facility of the region, came under scrutiny yet again today after the biochemistry lab of the hospital got waterlogged today.

Staff, patients and their relatives visiting the lab faced tough times as they had to wade through the waterlogged floor. Some senior citizens also slipped and fell while walking through the wet floor, said Vijay Kumar, an attendant of one of the patients.

Hospital staff complained about performing duty in a waterlogged corridor. The employees further said the hospital authorities were informed about the incident. The sanitation department workers reached the waterlogged area  and found that a snag in a tap installed in the washroom led to the waterlogging. The water was drained out of the corridor.

Relatives of patients started recorded the video of waterlogged area and shared it on social media, inviting criticism. Recently, the power outage incident at the maternity ward of the hospital had drawn sharp reactions, with Opposition party leaders targeting the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime and its “much-publicised” health model.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and former Health Minister and Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu were quick to react to the controversy. Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital Dr Girish Sahni had termed the allegations of power outage as baseless. He said the supply was snapped for less than a minute due to routine preventive maintenance work to check the functioning of wires, fans, air-conditioners ahead of the long and hot summer season as high voltage is feared to cause short-circuits.

Patiala