Aam Aadmi Clinic in a shambles after fire incident, staff, patients bear brunt

Months after a devastating fire destroyed the Aam Aadmi Clinic at Chawni Mohalla on February 7, 2025, the facility continues to operate in deplorable conditions from a makeshift space provided by a local gurdwara. The authorities have yet to renovate the clinic or relocate it to a suitable site, leaving both staff and patients to face daily hardships.

A visit to the original clinic site paints a grim picture — what was once a functional healthcare centre, now lies in ruins, overrun by wild vegetation. Local residents said since the fire incident, the structure had remained abandoned and looted, with miscreants stealing its iron grills, gates, furniture, water tanks, taps and even the signage.

In the meantime, the gurdwara committee has stepped forward by offering two low-lying shops to temporarily house the clinic. However, the stopgap arrangement is far from ideal.

“Every time it rains, sewer water overflows and enter the shops through seepage. Still, blood samples are collected and patients are treated in the unhygienic conditions,” said a local resident whose family frequently visits the clinic.

The current set-up is manned by a team of four — a doctor, a lab technician, a pharmacist and a helper — all of whom report extreme difficulties, especially during the monsoon season. “We have sent repeated requests to the authorities since February for basic facilities such as fans, lights, computers, printer, refrigerator, Wi-Fi and AC. Nothing has been done so far,” said a staff member.

Staff have been forced to spend from their own pockets to arrange fans and lighting. With no refrigerator at the site, vaccines are stored at other locations, raising serious concerns about cold chain maintenance. “On an average, about 100 patients visit the clinic daily but the lack of ventilation and cooling makes the environment suffocating,” the lab attendant added.

Dr Prashant, the attending doctor at the clinic, confirmed he had raised the issues with the higher authorities but he was yet to receive a response.

Senior Medical Officer Kanwaljit Kaur said: “Staff have not informed me about the rainwater seepage. We have sent a letter to the government. These things take time.”

Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact Nodal Officer Seema remained unsuccessful.

With no concrete action taken in over five months, the future of the clinic and the health of hundreds of dependent patients continue to hang in uncertainty.

Ludhiana