Coimbatore receives heavy showers; rainwater enters CMCH ward

COIMBATORE: Patients faced inconvenience as rainwater entered a ward in the old building at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) when heavy showers lashed the city on Saturday evening.

Rain pounded the city and its surrounding areas on Friday night. Parts of the city, including Gandhipuram, Ukkadam, collector’s office area and Town Hall, received heavy rain on Saturday evening, as well. The showers continued for nearly an hour.

Rainwater entered a ward in the old building at the CMCH due to a blockage in the drainage system, leaving patients distressed for more than half an hour. CMCH dean A Nirmala said sanitary workers cleared the water from the affected ward. “There is a drainage issue near the ward. Funds have been allotted to lay roads on the hospital premises along with drainage work. Once the work is completed, the issue will be resolved,” she said.

The heavy rainfall over the past two days turned several roads in the city into mushy and non-motorable stretches. These roads were recently dug up for underground drainage (UGD) work but not properly restored, leading to waterlogging and the formation of deep sludge pits.

Meanwhile, in a release, the Coimbatore Corporation said road repair work had begun in the city. “Due to the ongoing 24x7 water supply and UGD project works in various parts of the city, several roads have been dug up for pipeline installations. As a result, roads in wards 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 56, 57, and 69 in the five city zones have been damaged. Considering public welfare, corporation officials have now begun road restoration work in the affected areas,” the release stated.

Rainwater mixed with sewage clogged the Kamaraj Road in KK Pudur after the heavy rain on Friday night, causing inconvenience to residents and motorists. Corporation officials cleared the blockages after receiving complaints. Residents have urged the corporation to desilt the stormwater drains to prevent the recurrence of such issues.

According to data from the District Disaster Management Department, the district recorded 721.60 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 7.30 am on Saturday.