Medical team constituted for each ward
A CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: With a brief trip, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma boosted the relief operation in flood-ravaged Silchar. Sarma waded through the knee-deep water on some roads. In other areas, he was in NDRF rescue boats, speaking to the commoners and listening to their worries and demands.
Later the Chief Minister held a meeting with the officials of various departments to assess the damage of the current flood. He also chalked out a blueprint for future eventualities.
Speaking to media persons, Sarma said, "The people of Silchar are happy with the way the government was trying to combat the devastation." Admitting that the administration could not reach out to every nook and corner of the town as roads were submerged, Sarma said that NDRF or SDRF boats could not enter various lanes. The administration had now planned to distribute the relief materials to local youths of each ward who are well-versed with the areas.
Sarma said the current flood in Silchar was man-made, and those who had damaged the Bethukandi dyke would be booked. And if there is negligence on the part of the administration, the responsible officials would face the consequences, Sarma added.
The Chief Minister said he was worried about the weather forecast as there might be more showers in the next two or three days. It would once again hamper the relief operation, he said. Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah would station at Silchar for the next few days to monitor the relief works. Sarma said he would come again on July 1.
Ward-wise medical team would start functioning from Monday, stated the Chief Minister. Speaking to the media persons, the Chief Minister emphasized the health sector. He said a mobile medical team would be in each of the 28 wards in Silchar town. On the other hand, the medical team would visit the rural areas.
Meanwhile, the Silchar Medical College and Hospital authorities have prepared a 22-bed geriatric ward. SMCH principal Dr Babul Bezbaruah said that in the last six days, patient admission in this premier healthcare centre dropped more than 50 per cent as roads leading to the SMCH are submerged. During normal times, patient intake in the SMCH varies between 100 and 150 persons per day. It has come down to much less than 70 patients. On June 23, only 42 patients were admitted. Dr Bezbaruah, however, said the SMCH had sufficient stock of medicines and salines. But health services faced a challenge due to the non-availability of doctors. "Almost 60 per cent of our faculty, as well as paramedics, stay in Silchar town, and they could not come as the roads were closed due to overflowing water. However, campus doctors and PG students managed the gap," said Dr Bezbaruah. He added that Health Minister Keshab Mahanta had been in constant touch with the SMCH.
Dr Bezbaruah said that the massive drop in patient admission indicated that ailing persons could not come to the SMCH due to floods. Once the water level recedes, there might be a rush of patients. Elderly persons would need immediate medical attention. The SMCH has already prepared a separate 22-bed geriatric ward, he informed.
Dr Bezbaruah said that Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy, who himself is a physician, had also advised him to get ready for a good number of patients post-flood.
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