Acute water crisis in Bhopal TB hospital affecting patients

Bhopal, May 28 (ANI): The tuberculosis hospital at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, is facing acute water shortage, and this is affecting the patients.

Although authorities are trying to tackle the problem by supplying water through water tankers, the effort is inadequate.

The hospital has 250 beds, of which over 150 are occupied at all times.

"We can neither bathe nor wash with the water that is available. We have to go out to get water if we need more," claimed Shailan Singh, a patient.

Another patient, Palam Singh, said: "There is a lot of inconvenience because of the lack of water. We get water once in two to three days. Even when we do, some are able to fill water, while others are not. Sometimes, we don't even have water to drink."

The water tankers provide water once in three days. It is just not enough considering the magnitude of the crisis.

"There is a water problem here. The availability of water is much less than the requirement. We have to call the district administration to get water tankers. It is not enough, but we get a workable amount of water," said Dr. M M Vyas, a medical specialist at the hospital.

In fact, Bhopal is facing acute water shortage due to a dry spell. Ironically, Bhopal was once known as the 'City of Lakes'.

The main source of water comes from the main lake, which was spread over an area of 38 square kilometres and has now shrunk to five square kilometres.

Consequently, cases of water-related violence have been reported from some localities in Bhopal and other places in Madhya Pradesh.

So difficult is the situation, that civic authorities distribute water to the various colonies under police escort. (ANI)