Scattered trash, rats keep visitors away from park near hospital

A park located outside the premises of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) lies in a state of neglect. It fails to serve the very purpose it could have fulfilled — offering respite to attendants of patients coping with stress of hospital corridors.

Once envisioned as a green pocket in the heart of the city, the park today presents a grim picture. Overflowing garbage bins, scattered plastic waste, burnt trash and shallow pits dominate the landscape. A few metal bowls and pipes strewn across the ground only add to the sense of abandonment.

Despite being situated in a bustling medical zone, the park remains poorly maintained, with no visible signs of regular cleaning or upkeep.

Patients’ attendants, many of whom spend long hours waiting outside the hospital, express disappointment over the condition of the park.

“We thought the park would be a nice place to sit, breathe and gather ourselves. But it’s so dirty and unhygienic that we don’t even feel safe walking through it,” said Baldev Singh, an attendant.

Another attendant said he had stepped into the park hoping to have his lunch away from the tense hospital atmosphere. “I just wanted a quiet corner to eat. But there were rats running around the trash. I had to leave immediately,” he said, visibly disturbed.

While the park is not officially within the DMCH’s jurisdiction, some visitors believe the hospital could take an initiative to maintain it. “The DMCH is a major institution with thousands of people from across North India visiting it daily. If it collaborates with the municipal authorities or adopt the park, it could become a clean, shaded space for attendants and even recovering patients,” suggested Mandeep Kaur, a resident from Kitchlu Nagar.

Lack of maintenance not only affects the aesthetic but also raises concerns about public health and safety. With open waste and rodent activity, the area poses risks of infection — ironic, given its proximity to a healthcare facility.