KOZHIKODE: District Medical Officer Asha Devi on Monday submitted a report to Health Minister K.K. Shylaja on the incident in which rat remains were found in drinking water at the Government General Hospital at Kozhikode Beach on Sunday.
In the report, the DMO said that the rat might have entered the water tank and two sumps managed by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) from the bushes nearby. The report did not rule out chances of birds leaving a dead rat in the overhead water tank, the lid of which is damaged.
The remains of a rat were found in drinking water collected from the pipeline in Ward 24 of the hospital, which houses patients undergoing treatment for dengue fever, leptospirosis, and Malaria. The incident had triggered protests by patients and bystanders who were soon joined by members of various organisations. They alleged that the massive cleaning drive carried out on the hospital premises, under the aegis of the Health Minister, was an “eye wash”.
The DMO said water tanks at the hospital would be cleaned up immediately, and that fresh water would be supplied to patients. The damaged lids of tanks will be soon replaced, she added.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities had sought an apology from the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation following media reports on Sunday that the water was being supplied by the corporation. Meanwhile, hospital superintendent Umer Farook clarified that the KWA was in charge of water supply.
