Wife in Covid ward, man waits outside with five-day-old baby in Secunderabad

SECUNDERABAD: Krishna, a 20-year-old labourer, is sitting on the stairs of Gandhi Hospital metro station in Telagana's Secunderabad, with his five-day-old daughter, waiting for his wife, Asha. Asha has been admitted to the hospital for Covid treatment.

After sitting for some time, Krishna walks up to the security guard to enquire about the health of his wife. The baby was delivered at the hospital itself where Asha is now under treatment for Covid-19. Gandhi Hospital is Telangana's biggest Covid-19 dedicated government facility.

The baby was gifted with a KCR kit -- under which the government provides 16 items necessary to keep new born babies warm and hygienic.

While Krishna's mother came to assist her son, he decided to wait outside the hospital hoping to see Asha walking out of the ward. Another reason is "The girl was delivered 5 days ago. Doctors sent me and the baby outside, citing the coronavirus situation. We could only arrange some warm water and milk powder to feed the baby," Krishna said.

Since Krishna lives in Zahirabad in Telangana -- some 115 km away from Hyderabad -- he decided to wait outside the hospital till his wife gets better.

There are other concerns too. Fearing that someone might steal the baby, Krishna chose not to stay at a shelter house nearby and decided to stay outside the locked metro station gate.