Rain leaves puddles in hospital

KOCHI: Timely onset of monsoon will spell disaster for the District Ayurveda Hospital in Kacheripady, thanks to the delay in completion of the first phase of construction work here. The hospital functions on two floors as the remaining three floors of the fivefloor building, inaugurated in June 2010, are yet to be completed. As of now, the patients are being accommodated even in the veranda of the first floor. “During summer showers, the whole place was waterlogged, especially near the bathroom,” said Saleena, an inpatient. Even outpatients have to watch their steps as rain water splashes on the verandah when it leaks into the central courtyard. The sweepers are virtually on their feet drying the place, she said. “Around 670 outpatients visit the hospital every day and the number will increase during the monsoon. The surroundings can be cleaned and the drains can be connected only after all the work is completed,” said the hospital authorities. Meanwhile, executive engineer N Robeson said, “The tender process has been completed and only the agreement remains to be signed with the contractor.” When asked, district panchayat president Eldose Kunnappally said, “We have set aside `1.34 crore for the second and third floors and `68 lakh for the fourth floor. We are speeding up the work and will ensure that the leakage is prevented during monsoon by placing a tarpaulin over the temporary roofing. We hope to complete the first phase of the work within four months.” The hospital will be fullfledged only when the second and third phases including the reception area, ramp, pay wards and canteen work are completed. “By next year, we’ll turn this into an ayurveda specialty hospital,” he said.