<p>A woman in her mid-40s was compelled to carry her injured husband on her back at Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital (RGMCH) in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district on Monday. The incident allegedly took place as no wheelchair was available at the outpatient department (OPD), sparking criticism after visuals of the ordeal went viral on social media. </p>
<p>Salita Barman, a homemaker from Raipur village in Raiganj block, carried her 51-year-old husband Paritosh Barman to the OPD, The Telegraph reported. Paritosh, who had injured his leg while supervising construction work at home, was unable to walk. </p>
<p>“I was perplexed,” Salita recounted. “On one hand, no wheelchair was available to carry my husband who couldn’t walk because of his injury. On the other hand, the private security personnel posted at the entrance to the hospital insisted the e-rickshaw driver leave the place quickly.” </p>
<p>Finding no alternative, she asked her husband if she could carry him on her back. “Somehow, I carried him to the OPD,” she said, as quoted by The Telegraph’s report. </p>
<p>Their troubles continued as doctors advised a CT scan that required moving to another building. With no wheelchair in sight, Salita again carried Paritosh on her back. </p>
<p>Paritosh expressed his gratitude towards his wife but criticised the hospital’s infrastructure. “It is unfortunate that there was no wheelchair. My wife had to bear the pain of carrying me since I could not walk after my injury,” he said, as per the report. </p>
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<h3><strong>Raiganj MLA Slams Incident As ‘Inhuman’, Hospital Official Claims ‘Wheelchair Was Arranged’ </strong></h3>
<p>Krishna Kalyani, the MLA of Raiganj and chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) at RGMCH, condemned the incident. “It was inhuman that a woman had to carry her husband on her back for treatment,” Kalyani remarked, holding the hospital authorities responsible. He also criticised Priyankar Roy, the medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal (MSVP) of RGMCH, for not initiating official procedures to allow him to assume charge as RKS chairman. </p>
<p>Priyankar Roy, however, defended the hospital, claiming that wheelchairs and stretchers were adequately available. “The patient would have got a wheelchair if they had waited a little. As we have learnt, a wheelchair was arranged for him,” he remarked, as quoted by the Telegraph. </p>
<p>Following the uproar, a wheelchair was eventually provided to Paritosh before the couple left for home after his CT scan and other tests. </p>
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