Udupi: The District Government Hospital, along with the Mother and Child Hospital, is currently grappling with a severe water crisis in Udupi. All water sources within the district hospital have dried up, exacerbating the situation. Furthermore, the water level of the Baje reservoir, which supplies water to Udupi town, has significantly decreased, prompting the City Municipal Council (CMC) to implement a water supply schedule of once every three days.

For the past few days, patients have been enduring the consequences of inadequate water supply. The Udupi district hospital receives a daily influx of 900 to 1000 out-patients and accommodates 100 to 130 in-patients. With a staff of 55 full-time employees and 60 to 70 contract workers, the hospital requires water for bathing, toilets, cooking, and laundering patients' clothes, as highlighted by a relative of one of the patients.

Water is currently being sourced through a pipeline connected to a well on government land along the Ambalapadi National Highway. However, the city lacks additional water sources to cater to the needs of the government mother and child hospital, which relies entirely on water supplied by the CMC. Given that the hospital receives daily visits from numerous expectant mothers and patients, the water scarcity issue has become a pressing concern.

The well that supplies water to the district government hospital at Ajjarakadu has completely dried up due to the absence of pre-monsoon showers in the district this year. Both hospitals have been grappling with a water crisis since January. This mirrors a similar water shortage incident that occurred in 2018, also due to a lack of rainfall in the district. Dr. Sudesh Kumar, the in-charge district surgeon, expressed his concern over the recurrence of such circumstances after five years.

As a result of the water crisis, an e-tender has been issued to secure water tanker services for the district hospital. However, even the availability of tankers has become a challenge due to the depletion of water sources in Udupi town. Consequently, the water supply to the hospital fluctuates, leading to complaints from patients who sometimes find the restrooms locked.

Recognizing the presence of economically disadvantaged patients in the hospital, authorities have appealed to donors to obtain water from private sources and supply it to the hospital via tankers. Social activist Jayan Malpe highlighted the water shortage issue at Udupi's Ajjarakadu Government District Hospital, emphasizing the alleged helplessness of the doctors there. He claimed that there is a lack of responsiveness to the patients' concerns.

In response to the patients' grievances, Deputy Commissioner Kurma Rao visited the hospital and directed District Surgeon Dr. Sudesh Kumar to take the necessary steps to address the water scarcity. The in-charge surgeon explained that as the number of patients increases, the severity of the water shortage also deepens. However, every effort is made to minimize any inconveniences to the patients.