Swarms of winged ants force closure of two operation theatres at Durg hospital

DURG: Two operation theatres (OTs) at a government hospital in Chhattisgarh's Durg district have been shut for the last 10 days after swarms of winged ants entered the facilities following heavy rains, officials said on Thursday.

The operation theatres in the mother-child unit of the district hospital were closed as a precautionary measure after a large number of flying ants were found inside the OTs, Civil Surgeon of the hospital Dr Ashish Minj said.

"The winged ants entered the operation theatres due to the ongoing heavy rains. To ensure patient safety and maintain sterile conditions, both OTs were temporarily closed," he said.

Dr Minj said no surgeries have been affected by the closure as the hospital's emergency operation theatre is being used to carry out all required procedures.

"No patient has been referred to another hospital because of the closure of these OTs. All surgeries are being managed through the emergency OT," he said.

Repair and pest-control work is underway, and both OTs are expected to become operational again within the next two to three days, the official added.

Heavy rains have lashed several parts of Chhattisgarh over the past few days, inundating low-lying areas, swelling rivers and streams, disrupting road connectivity and creating flood-like conditions in parts of the state, officials have said.