KOCHI: The patients, bystanders and staff of over half a dozen hospitals in and around Kochi had to be evacuated to other hospitals or to their homes as the water level rose in Periyar and its tributaries and canals on Thursday.
The elderly, women and critical patients were evacuated from Kalady PMM Hospital as water entered its premises.
. The other hospitals included Moovattupuzha Nirmala Hospital, Aluva Najath Hospital, Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Chalakka, Vimala Hospital, Kanjoor, and Aluva Anwar Hospital.
A total of 200 people were stranded in Moovattupuzha Nirmala Hospital, including 50 patients while six pregnant women were stuck in Vimala Hospital, Kanjoor.
They were said to have been evacuated by rescue teams.
The patients and staff of Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences too were reported to be still stranded, while some have been evacuated.
Water also seeped into the hospital compound of Aster Medcity, South Chittoor, by Thursday evening.
The patients in critical condition in ventilator were shifted out and no new admissions were allowed.
The hospital authorities said they initially tried to pump out flood waters and were monitoring the situation, but later they proceeded to evacuate the entire hospital.
By evening 200 patients were taken out to other hospitals and more were set to be moved.
The first floor of Muthoot Hospital, Kozhencherry, situated on college road in Pathanamthitta was inundated in flood water.
The patients in critical condition have been shifted to other hospitals while some 60 people including patients and the hospital staff are still stranded.
Rescue workers have shifted others in the hospital, some 140 of them, to an orphanage nearby. Rescue operations were on to move those who are still stranded in the hospital without electricity, food and water.
