Kozhencherry Muthoot Hospital on College Road in Pathanamthitta district has been badly affected by the floods and is inundated with water. The flood water has reached the first floor and is continuing to rise to the second floor, said employees of the hospital, who spoke to TNM.
While most of the ICU patients have been shifted to other hospitals, around 200 people, including the staff members of the hospital and the remaining patients, are being shifted to Muthoot’s orphanage here.
“Rescue teams operations are developing in a phased manner. Around 200 patients are yet to be moved out. While a 15-member capacity boat has arrived, only four to five patients are being taken at a time due to the turbidity of the water,” says Shyna, a nurse at the hospital.
According to Shyna, water entered the hospital on Wednesday morning and has been increasing since. “The water is so high that one will start floating,” she describes.
Since Wednesday afternoon, the hospital lost its electricity supply. “We have been using candles, but providing any service is becoming difficult,” she said.
The hospital does not have sufficient food and water supply as well. The hospital has also run out of oxygen for the stranded patients on ventilators and others.
The reception, pharmacy, X-Ray, MRA and CT labs were located on the ground floor. While all these departments have been closed, the pharmacy has been relocated to the second floor temporarily.
