An open sewage tank attached to the maternity ward at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has been overflowing for three days posing a major health hazard for both the inpatients and visitors here.

Apart from stagnating very close to the new block, the sewage from the tank is also spreading to nearby wards.

S. Anitha, a visitor to the ward, claimed that odour emanating from the sewage water was spreading up to 200 meters.

“Considering the ill-health and lower immunity levels of the people here, this could further increase their chances of catching infections,” she stated. She added that people are forced to walk on the water before entering the wards further increasing the chances of germs entering the wards. “The newborns can be easily affected,” she said.

Another patient claimed that despite constant complaints, the tank was still overflowing and no action had been taken.

Reacting to the issue, a senior official from CMCH said that the overflow was regular as sewage from the hotels nearby passed through CMCH. The official also said that immediate action would be taken to clear the stagnant water.