Deoghar, Jharkhand: For three days now, Farhud Ahmed, admitted for dehydration to the Sadar Hospital in Jharkhand's Deoghar town, has made daily trips back home each morning to bathe and use the toilet despite doctors advising him complete bed rest.
Mr Ahmed has no choice. Deoghar's biggest government hospital has no water except in the intensive care unit or ICU and the emergency ward. Jharkhand is in the grip a drought and with summer setting in water is at a premium across the state, not just in Deoghar.
"I live close by. So in the morning I go home. But, what about those who have come from far? It is a terrible situation," said Mr Ahmed.
Hospital authorities say the municipal corporation supplies water only once or twice a week. "There is no water in the whole city, and the hospital is within the city isn't it? We have made alternative arrangements but it is not enough for us," said Dr SC Jha, in-charge of government hospitals in Deoghar. Though he did not specify what these arrangements were.
Jharkhand declared a drought in December 2015. A week ago, the Jharkhand government said there is an emergency situation in the state over shortage of water. Water levels in the dams and reservoirs across the state are half of what they should be at this time of the year, or even lower.
On Saturday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das visited three dams near Ranchi. Officials in Jharkhand's water supply department have been asked to make arrangements to increase storage capacity at reservoirs across the state. The government is hoping a good monsoon will help store more water. But, that relief is at least a few months away.
Deoghar has over 36,000 households. Lakhs of pilgrims also visit a famous temple in the town each year. A recent study conducted in the city said ground water levels have dropped three metres in just three years. A decade ago, the depletion would be in centimetres annually, the study said.
Mr Ahmed has no choice. Deoghar's biggest government hospital has no water except in the intensive care unit or ICU and the emergency ward. Jharkhand is in the grip a drought and with summer setting in water is at a premium across the state, not just in Deoghar.
"I live close by. So in the morning I go home. But, what about those who have come from far? It is a terrible situation," said Mr Ahmed.
Deoghar's Sadar hospital has no water except in the intensive care unit or ICU and the emergency ward.
Jharkhand declared a drought in December 2015. A week ago, the Jharkhand government said there is an emergency situation in the state over shortage of water. Water levels in the dams and reservoirs across the state are half of what they should be at this time of the year, or even lower.
On Saturday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das visited three dams near Ranchi. Officials in Jharkhand's water supply department have been asked to make arrangements to increase storage capacity at reservoirs across the state. The government is hoping a good monsoon will help store more water. But, that relief is at least a few months away.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Is Black Salt Healthy? Expert Weighs In The Health Benefits Jharkhand Woman Dies Mid-Way While Being Carried To Hospital On Cot How Sipping Coconut Water Can Boost Your Weight Loss Efforts Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94: Publicist Israeli Strike Kills Field Commander In Elite Hezbollah Unit: Report Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.