Drinking Water Crisis Cripples Kozhikode Medical College for Weeks Amid Infectious Disease Outbreak

Kozhikode: Even as infectious diseases continue to spread across the district, drinking water supply at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital has remained disrupted for weeks. Clean water has become scarce in most wards of the hospital, including the women and children's ward.

Patients and their attendants say they often wait for hours at the taps without getting even a drop of water. With the hospital's drinking water supply disrupted, patients have been forced to rely on nearby canteens and hotels for water.

There is no way to verify whether the water purchased at inflated prices from these outlets is even clean. This is creating serious health risks for patients already battling intense heat and the threat of infectious diseases.

There are allegations that authorities have taken no steps to resolve the weeks-long water shortage. Despite repeated complaints, officials concerned have failed to give a clear answer on when the water supply will be restored.

Taps in the wards remain dry for most of the day. Criticism has mounted from various quarters that the lack of water at a hospital where hygiene is critical for disease prevention amounts to a serious lapse.

Patients and attendants have decided to mount a strong protest against the authorities' negligence. There is a growing demand that the hospital superintendent and the Health Department intervene urgently to restore the drinking water supply.