Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): People in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh have been narrating the harrowing experiences they faced at hospitals and crematoriums as India battles a deadly sweep of the Covid second wave.
An ETV Bharat team visited the hospitals in the city and interacted with the people to understand the ground situation.
Caretakers facing problems in Deendayal Hospital
Many caretakers arriving at the hospital to treat the patients are facing issues due to a lack of medical facilities. The family members of the patients at Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital say that there is a lot of difficulty in getting admitted to the hospital and booking a doctor's appointment. They say it takes hours waiting for one's turn and even doctors' are reluctant to get patients admitted to the hospital.
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Shortage in Oxygen supply still continues
Dr Shraddha Singh, who is in need of an oxygen cylinder, says there is a shortage of oxygen. She said that her mother's health isn't good and as a precaution wants to get the liquid medical oxygen-filled, but there is no availability. This is indeed troubling for patients who are in home isolation.
No assistance whatsoever from officials
Social worker Ashwani Tripathi said that for the past ten days, he has been helping patients secure admission at various hospitals.
He said that the Covid Command Centre set up in Varanasi only gives assurance when dialled regarding the availability of ventilators and oxygen supply. After that, patients do not get any kind of help. The same situation is experienced every day, and in order to improve the system, even though the district administration deployed a Nodal and Sector Magistrate everywhere, there is no use. Also, officials having switched off their phones.
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Hundreds of bodies burning every day, people waiting for their turn
According to government figures in Varanasi, there are about 10 deaths on a daily basis, but on the Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, hundreds of cremations are being performed every day.
The chimneys of crematoriums are cracking up and there is also no firewood that is needed to cremate the bodies. However, at present, the bodies of corona-infected patients are not being cremated at the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi and the bodies have been lined up.
In order to deal with the situation, the administration has also built a temporary cremation centre adjacent to the Harishchandra Ghat to reduce the piling up of dead bodies. But these measures still have not reduced the crowd, and those attending cremation say that they have to wait for hours.
OPD for the common man
CMS' Dr Haricharan, who is in charge of the Divisional Hospital, said that at present, OPD is being run for the convenience of patients. He said that corona tests are carried out and those who test positive will be shifted to the Covid Care Centre.
At present, 125 holding areas have been set up in the hospital for the treatment of critically ill patients. Along with this, the work of vaccination is also in full swing in the hospital. There is also no lack of oxygen, as the supply has been increased and soon an oxygen plant will be installed in the hospital premises.
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Arangements for 47 hospitals and 1700 beds
District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that the number of beds has been increased from 800 to 1700 within a span of 10 days and that currently all beds are occupied. A total of 46 Covid hospitals are being operated in the district, out of which 39 are private hospitals, while 7 are government hospitals. The DM also said that the number of beds will be increased in the coming days, apart from this a temporary hospital with an 850-bed capacity will also be set up in the BHU MP theatre ground of Varanasi by next week. He told that in the coming days, when the production of oxygen will increased, other private hospitals will also be converted into Covid hospitals, which will increase the number of beds and overall there would be 2000 beds.
Around 40 percent oxygen is being supplied
The District Magistrate said that 75 oxygen concentrators will be arranged to provide oxygen to about 150 beds. Along with this, the administration has purchased 600 new oxygen cylinders which are in circulation. Along with this 200 cylinders have been taken from the Mirzapur Oxygen Plant, which is being circulated in public to improve oxygen rotation. There are also plans to set up 2 - 3 oxygen plants in the district so that issues related to oxygen will be solved. Currently, only 30 to 40 percent of oxygen is being supplied to the patients and in the coming days, it would be 100 percent.
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600 ventilator beds
According to the District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma, a total of 600 beds out of 1700 is reserved for the Varanasi district. Of these, ventilators are about 150 and the rest are 450 in all. Additionally, there are 1100 beds with an oxygen facility, and that a temporary Covid Hospital is being set up with 250 beds. This will help the patients because people come from not only Varanasi but also from the surrounding districts.
95,65,631 people have been investigated
To date, 95,65,631 people have been investigated for Covid in Varanasi district so far. Amongst them, 8,69,851 people have tested negative. Now a total of 61,424 corona infected patients have been found in the district. Of which 42,098 people have recovered, while, 519 people lost their lives due to the pandemic. At present, the number of active corona infected patients in the district is 18,807.
2,71,637 people have been vaccinated
To keep people safe from the pandemic, a vaccination campaign is being conducted with 5000 people being vaccinated on a daily basis. Overall 2,71,607 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in the district so far, which includes 40,690 health workers, 43,100 front line workers, 1,87,847 beneficiaries aged above 45 years.
