The Bengal health department on Friday converted a 150-bed unit for suspected Covid-19 cases into a hospital for confirmed patients in Jalpaiguri because of a surge in the infections amid allegations of poor services at the facility.

A 140-bed hospital for coronavirus patients and a 150-bed wing for suspected cases had been set up at the Biswa Bangla Krirangan, a sports complex at Rajbaripara in Jalpaiguri, when the disease had broken out.

“The number of cases are rising. So, it has been decided that the 150 beds which were marked for suspected cases will be allotted to confirmed Covid-19 patients. This means there will be 290 beds at the hospital. Some other facilities will be set up in Jalpaiguri for suspected patients. We are also posting eight more doctors at the hospital,” said Sushanta Roy, the officer on special duty (OSD) appointed by the state government for Covid management in north Bengal.

Till Thursday, 945 Covid cases were reported in the district.

Bengal CPM secretary Surjyakanta Mishra posted in social media a video that purportedly showed Covid-19 patients at the Jalpaiguri hospital complaining about poor quality of water and food provided to them.

The Telegraph couldn’t independently check the authenticity of the video in which the patients said washrooms were not being cleaned and doctors and paramedics were hardly found at the hospital.

Jalpaiguri chief medical officer of health Ramendranath Pramanik said the washrooms could not be cleaned because of shortage of cleaning staff. “We will ensure proper cleaning of toilets,” he added.

OSD Roy, however, said: “There are political motives behind such social media posts. We are keeping a constant watch on the hospital so that patients do not face any problem.”

Members of NGO Green Jalpaiguri met Pramanik and handed him a letter addressed to chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“The Covid-19 situation has become grim in Jalpaiguri. We have urged the chief minister to intervene and ensure that proper healthcare is available at the Covid hospital here,” said Ankur Das, the general secretary of the NGO.