Rims Hospital Ranchi: No Drinking Water Amidst Heatwave, Patients Suffer

Ranchi: Patients, attendants and staff at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) are facing hardship as taps on the hospital premises are lying defunct for months, disrupting access to safe drinking water, with the temperature touching 39.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

Recently, chief minister Hemant Soren had directed officials to ensure the availability of clean drinking water at all govt establishments and public places to provide relief to people during summer.

The lack of functional water facilities amid the heat has compounded problems for both patients and their attendants. Every day, around 2,500-3,000 patients visit outpatient departments (OPDs) at Rims from various parts of Jharkhand and neighbouring states.

Surendra Oraon from Ranchi’s Bero, who has been attending to his elder brother for the past 20 days after he met with an accident, said that he has been purchasing water from vendors outside as all water taps inside the hospital are defunct.

“He was admitted to the surgery department after he broke his hands and legs in a road accident. From day one, we were forced to rely on bottled water. Every day I purchase around four liters of water from vendors outside the hospital. Although it costs just Rs 10, being a sole attendant to a critical patient and walking at least 1 km to buy water, becomes hard to manage,” Surendra told TOI.

Gaurav Gupta from Bokaro, who is attending to his 66-year-old mother suffering from chest pain for the past three days, said, “On the hospital premises, not a single tap is working. With temperatures rising, the lack of drinking water at a premier health care centre is a matter of shame. Moreover, the hospital lacks wheelchairs and the building is also crumbling.”

A nurse at the orthopaedic department, requesting anonymity, said that with the onset of summer, usually hospital authorities monitor the taps and repair them if required. “But this year I have not witnessed any such initiative due to which patients, attendants and staff are facing inconvenience,” she added.

Rims public relations officer Dr Shishir Kumar said that water filters are installed at many places, but some parts were damaged by criminal elements.

“The administration has started the process to repair the taps. After that, we hope the issue will be resolved. Over 25 filters are being repaired,” he said.