Residents seek permanent relief against flooding at Government Taluk Hospital in Vaniyambadi

Residents demanded a permanent end to inundation of dilapidated Government Taluk Hospital in Vaniyambadi town near Tirupattur as heavy overnight rain flooded the public facility on Saturday, making patients, relatives and hospital authorities to wade through knee-deep stagnated rainwater.

Residents said that inundation of the hospital has been a major challenge for patients and relatives to get safe access to the facility during rains. The hospital remains the lifeline for residents within the civic body that has 36 wards with a population of around 2.5 lakh persons.

“The hospital should be upgraded with modern facilities and adequate staff. Clogged drains around the facility should be desilted and floor level of open space in the hospital premises should be above the existing road level to prevent water logging,” said G. Hussian, a resident.

Residents said that the hospital is a key health facility for residents of key towns like Vaniyambadi, Natrampalli, Alangayam, Jolarpet and Ambur as the hospital, which functions round the clock, has facilities like CT scanner, X-ray, operation theatres and adequate stock of medicines. Apart from big towns, more than 30 villages are also dependent on the hospital for timely medical care.

Health officials said that the hospital was inaugurated in 1957 near the railway station. It has 144 beds for in-patients. On an average, the hospital gets between 500 – 700 outpatients every day.

Civic officials said that the hospital is located on a low-lying area near Kannamma Pudur lake, which has encroachments that causes inundation. Also, the existing storm water drains, which are small, were built many years ago. It cannot handle a large volume of excess rainwater discharged from the town and nearby lake. “Stagnated water in the hospital premises was pumped out, using motor pump sets. Open drains and channels will be desilted in the coming days to prevent waterlogging in public facilities,” K. Raghuraman, Commissioner, Vaniyambadi municipality, told The Hindu.

Officials of Regional Meteorological Centre said that Tirupattur district received a total rainfall of 343.80 mm as of 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. Tirupattur town received the highest rainfall of 72.60 mm, followed by Vaniyambadi (64 mm) and Ambur (38.20 mm).