Rain Exposes Infrastructure Lapses at Narnaul Civil Hospital
Patients visiting the Civil Hospital in Narnaul, Haryana, are facing significant inconvenience as the roof of the old Outpatient Department (OPD) building leaks during rainfall. The situation has raised concerns about patient safety and the quality of healthcare facilities in government hospitals.
Patients at Risk of Slipping on Wet Floors
The leaking roof has made the hospital floors slippery, increasing the risk of falls, particularly for elderly patients. Anil Rao, a resident who brought his mother for treatment, said, "Especially elderly citizens are at a higher risk of slipping on the wet floor and falling. They are already vulnerable, and even a small slip can cause fractures and other complications requiring prolonged treatment. The hospital administration should take good care of the hospital premises and ensure that the building is safe for patients."
Inconvenience for Patients and Staff
Patients have reported difficulties such as prescription cards getting drenched and having to navigate through corridors with water dripping from the roof. Savita, whose husband was undergoing treatment, expressed her frustration. Mukesh Rajput, who accompanied a friend, stated, "The rich visit high-end hospitals that have quality facilities. On the other hand, the underprivileged have no option but to throng government hospitals. The authorities concerned should pay some attention to our plight."
Some hospital staff members, speaking anonymously, said that rainwater entering the premises also hampered their ability to perform duties effectively. Sources indicated that the leaking roof points to a serious lapse, as repair and maintenance work had been carried out at the hospital just a few months ago.
CMO Acknowledges Ongoing Repairs
When asked for comments, Narnaul Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ashok Kumar said the Public Works Department (PWD) is still working on repairing the old OPD building. "Some water was also seeping through the ventilators of the OPD lobby, which are to be repaired by the PWD," he said. He added that the tendering process for roof tile work is in progress and is expected to be completed soon.
