In Photos: With Nowhere to Go, AIIMS Patients Sleep in the Cold

Think Delhi is not as cold this winter? Ask the families who’re forced to spend their nights on the city’s streets.

A man sleeping outside the AIIMS metro station in New Delhi. 

(Photo: Natisha Mallick/The Quint)

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, is one of India’s largest government hospitals. Founded in 1956, the hospital see an unrelenting stream of patients everyday.

A large number of these patients come from faraway villages and town, and do not have enough savings at their disposal. As a result, some of these outpatients and their families have to live on the streets.

Late nigth at the AIIMS bus stop.

With just a blanket or an old sweater, these patients spend cold nights on pavements, waiting for a doctor’s appointment or some test results. Even though the Delhi government runs night shelters for such families, these are usually too crowded.

Here are the stories of the patients on the pavements.

Ramswarup – UP

Ramswarup’s 16-year-old son, Digvijay, is being treated for Hepatitis B. They have been travelling to AIIMS for the last 12 years.

Ramswarup shares his blanket with his son for whose treatment they have come to AIIMS. 

Before coming here, we knew that we’ll spend nights out on the streets. It’s been four days that we are here and we brought two blankets with us. Someone came and gave us a foam sheet to use as a bed. The doctor will see us on Tuesday, and only after that will we know if we have to stay here for more days or buy the medicines and go back.

Ramswarup

16-year-old Digvijay was diagnosed with Hepatitis B when he was four years old.

Ira Devi – Bihar

Ira Devi has come with her son Praveen Kumar for his treatment and has been living outside AIIMS for three months.

Ira Devi has been sleeping on the pavements outside AIIMS metro station gate number one.

The doctors have not been able to diagnose his problem. Though doctors in our village removed a part of his jaw and referred us here. Recently, the doctors here ordered a blood panel. After the reports come, we will go back to our village — there is no point to stay here in the biting cold when the treatment is not being done properly.

Ira Devi

Kusma – UP

Kusma came to Delhi a month ago to treat the swelling on her neck. During this time, she has been living outside the AIIMS metro station with her brother.

Kusma has been living outside AIIMS hospital waiting for her treatment to start. 

When we finally got to meet the doctor, he ordered a panel of tests that cost Rs 15,000, but the problem hasn’t been diagnosed yet. We did not come prepared and have been braving the winters like many others patients who have also travelled from their villages. 

Kusma

Shrita Devi – Bihar

Shrita Devi has made multiple trips to Delhi from her home near Nalanda, Bihar, during the last one year.

Shrita Devi uses the area outside AIIMS metro station gate number two for sleeping at night.

I’ve been coming to Delhi for over a year for the constant body and ear aches that I keep suffering from. I come here for a few days and go back to my village. Someone came to distribute free blankets and gave me one too. I am just waiting to meet the doctor next week, then I will go back again.

Shrita Devi 

Rameshwar Dayal – UP

While his wife and son, who are being treated at AIIMS, found space at a nearby night shelter, Rameshwar Dayal has to sleep outside the metro station.

Rameshwar’s wife Gyandevi is suffering from liver issues. 

We have been coming to AIIMS for my wife’s treatment for the last five years. Usually, we spend nights on the street, but luckily this time my wife and son got space at the shelter. At least they don’t have to spend the night outside in the cold. I will sit for a while and try to sleep, though I know it would be difficult to get any sleep like this.

Rameshwar Dayal 

Pradeep – UP

While getting treated for a lung disorder, Pradeep sleeps on the polluted Delhi roads.

Pradeep prefers to sleep on the streets than the night shelters due to the bad state of the shelters. 

I have been coming to AIIMS since July this year for my lung treatment. I knew that I will have spend the cold nights out in the streets and have come prepared with a blanket and jacket. The night-shelters are worse, people end up peeing inside the shelters and the stench is so bad that it’s better to brave the cold. 

Pradeep 

Prakash – Haryana

Prakash and his wife spend their days inside the hospital’s crowded wards – where his mother is being treated – and nights at the bus stop.

Prakash and his wife sit on the pavement of the AIIMS bus stop. 

My mother slipped and broke her bone, so my wife and I came here for her treatment in October.  Even though we live about 80 kms from here, we can’t keep  going back and forth as we have to take tokens and stand in OPD queues. I went back home to get some blankets and winter wear for my mother and wife. The doctors are yet to give us a date for her operation. I don’t know how much longer we will have to sleep on the streets like this.

Prakash