A woman stands in front of the tank at Sambalpur hospital. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, May 7: Scarcity of drinking water is creating problems for patients at Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital here.

The only source of drinking water, Amrut dhara, a concrete water tank that was constructed in 2006 on the hospital complex for patients of surgery, medicine, paediatric, child and orthopaedic wards, is now dysfunctional.

“My brother has been admitted in the surgery ward of the hospital for an injury to his arm. For the last seven days, I have been with him. I have to go outside the campus to get drinking water. Though the tank was constructed to provide water to the indoor patients of the hospital, it is of no use now. The hot weather has made our situation worse,” said Pushpanjali Rabana, who hails from Ghugar in Rengali block.

Prabhat Das, whose brother has been admitted to the orthopaedic ward, said: “Amrut dhara is situated right in front of our ward, but we still have to walk a long way in this scorching heat to get water to drink. The hospital authorities should take initiatives to repair this source of drinking water.”

There are 217 beds in the hospital but the staff claim that at least 240 patients are admitted there at a time. All the patients and their attendants have to go out of the campus to get drinking water. There is an water purifier on the campus for outdoor patients, but one has to stand for hours in queue to get water from there.

“I have come here to get my husband treated. There is no water supply in the bathrooms and hence, we go to the ‘Sulabh Sauchalaya’ and pay to take a bath,” said Asha Bhuyan, a resident of Birenkani of Jujomura block.

Additional district medical officer of Sambalpur Madhuri Purohit admitted that Amrut dhara was lying dysfunctional for the last two years. “There is an aqua guard and another two sources of drinking water on the campus. However, we have consulted a technician to repair Amrut dhara. The condenser in Amrut dhara has been out of order and it would be repaired as soon as possible,” Purohit said.