Attendants hassled as night shelters near PGI bursting at seams

Night shelters set up by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) near the PGIMER are witnessing heavy rush as patients and attendants seek some place to beat the severe cold. This weekend, due to thick fog and dip in mercury, the facility has been packed to capacity every night.

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The MC has increased the capacity of a these night shelters to 200 persons with four waterproof tents, one each for males and females and two for families. Each has the capacity of 50 people.

Gaurav Sharma, incharge, PGI night shelter, shared that, “Tonight, 190 people used the facility in the entire day. By the time the clock strikes 9 pm, it’s always full and we recommend some who are not able to get space here to go to the shelter in Sector 16. On Friday, January 3, there were total 121 female entries and 80 male entries, making it 201, so there are times when even families have to adjust to make space for some extra persons.”

As far as amenities are concerned, the contractor of the night shelter at the PGI, Ashish Sharma, shared that, “Each tent has 50 beddings and 50 quilts. Four heaters are there to keep the occupants warm. Also RO water and public washroom near the night shelter is available.”

To take shelter, individuals only need to provide their Aadhaar number and mobile number. Gourav stated that, “While sometimes the tent with females have space to accommodate more, in case of tents with men, it is mostly packed. There are more men shelter seekers than females. So, they either go to night shelter in Sector 16 or find a place near the Emergency, along with others who sleep there so that they could a minute away from the doctor’s call.”

In Sector 16 night shelter there are two waterproof tents, one each for males and females, having a capacity to accommodate 60, the lady supervisor on duty, Krishna, said. “On an average out of 120 vacant beddings, 50 to 60 per cent are occupied by 8 pm. Many homeless people or rickshaw pullers or roadside vendors also come after 10 or by midnight to take refuge,” she added.

A resident of Saharanpur, UP, Anuj Sharma, shared, “We had to see a doctor at the PGI on Monday. But after coming here tonight, got to know that Monday is a holiday. So this night shelter came to our rescue as we will have to wait for Tuesday to meet the doctor.”

Another family of three with a child around six years old had come from Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. “It would have been impossible to wait for two days to get the required consultation had there been no night shelter. The thought of going back home for two days and again coming back for mere consultation is not convenient. Of course, there are rest houses and hotels, but a warm place just near the hospital and that too free of cost is definitely great.”

Many who register at these shelters near the PGI are attendants of patients who are admitted in the Emergency and couldn’t bear the thought of booking a place far from the hospital. So, night shelter offers relief and help them combat the harsh winter conditions.