Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), which has been reeling under water crisis for over a week now due to irregular supply from Maithon Lake, is currently working on a war-footing to revive all the three defunct deep borewells.
The 500-bed state-run hospital, which was established in 1971 in the days of United Bihar, has an average footfall of over 1,000 patients daily. It is accredited to the MCI and affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University.
The most important deep borewell, situated at Kusum Vihar close to the heal hub, was discontinued around seven years ago after the hospital started getting water from Maithon Lake through a pipeline.
The second borewell, which was developed behind the emergency ward in 2002 using MLA local area development funds, could not be made functional due to low water pressure.
The third one, situated near the upcoming super-specialty complex, is being revived by installing a new motor pump.
In addition to irregular supply from the lake due to pipe leaks, undeclared rationing by the drinking water and supply division because of approaching summer is also adding to the woes.
Although the supply in emergency, gynaecology and surgery wards haven’t been affected yet, several indoor wards and toilets are running dry.
Patients visiting the hospital from various parts Giridih, Jamtara and the home district are compelled to buy water from shops outside the hospital.
As a temporary measure, tankers were pressed into service on Monday to ease the pressure.
Expressing disgust over the situation, social activist Ankit Rajgarhia, who frequents the hospital for procuring blood for patients said, “The situation was extremely bad two days ago. However, it has improved a lot after water tankers were deployed.”
Nirsa resident Sukhlal Hembrom, who visited the hospital on Tuesday for blood transfusion of his niece said, “We also faced difficulties due to lack of water and had to get bottled water from shops situated outside the hospital.”
PMCH superintendent Shailendra Kumar said, “We are working on a war-footing to revive all the three deep borewells. The one located near Kusum Vihar is likely to revived at the earliest. We are also exploring the possibility of reviving the other two as soon as possible.”
A hospital source, however, said the crisis was likely to be completely over by Wednesday as the overhead tanks on the institute premises are slowly getting filled by Maithon Lake water. “Once the tanks get filled, supply will be restored in the next 24 hours,” he added.