The Bihar government was severely criticised on Sunday after photos and videos showing a flooded Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna surfaced on social media. New agency ANI shared a video showing fish swimming in water that had purportedly entered the facility’s Intensive Care Unit.
“The process for throwing water out of the place is under way,” the news agency quoted an unidentified health department official as saying. “Pumping plant is working continuously.”
Opposition leader Tejaswi Yadav took to Twitter to criticise Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about the incident. “Bihar’s second largest Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, has turned into an aquarium that too filled with drain water,” Yadav tweeted. “Hope the Janata Dal (United) does not declare this a stunt by Lord Indra. Even Lord Indra is highlighting the wrong policies followed by the government for 14 years.”
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey was not available for a comment as he is reportedly in Shimla to oversee preparations for an event for Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, reported News18.
On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department had forecast heavy rain in the city until August 1. The district magistrate has issued directions ordering all private and government schools in Patna, Danapur, Khagaul, Phulwari Sharif municipal areas to remain shut because of the heavy rain and waterlogging in the region, ANI reported.
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