Jaws dropped as officials on Monday spotted cauldrons of water, which seemed to have very high levels of iron and that looked filthy, in the kitchen of the region’s premier health institute, the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri.

As the matter came to light during a visit to the kitchen by NBMCH Patient Welfare Committee (PWC) chairman, Dr Rudranath Bhattacharya, officials and relatives of patients expressed great concern and wondered if such water was being used to cook food in the central kitchen that supplies food for the patients.

NBMCH superintendent Dr Kausik Samajdar, assistant superintended Dr Sudipta Mondal and other officials accompanied Dr Bhattacharya to the kitchen.

“As Dr Bhattacharya enquired with officials concerned about the quality of water used for cooking food for the patients, he was informed that the water supplied there had high iron content,” sources said.

The food for patients numbering between 700 and 1000, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served from the kitchen daily. “It is a matter of concern that the water here is full of iron,” Dr Bhattacharya later said, adding that he has directed officials and supervisors concerned not to use the high-iron water in the kitchen anymore.

Officials in charge of the kitchen, however, said such water was not used for cooking, but to clean utensils. Experts said consuming large amounts of iron can lead to a condition known as ‘iron overload.’

“Left untreated, iron overload can lead to hemochromatosis, a severe disease that can damage the body organs. Early symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, and joint pain, but if hemochromatosis is not treated, it can lead to heart disease, liver problems and diabetes,” experts here said. Dr Bhattacharya said the matter would be discussed in the next PWC meeting.

“Iron is an essential element in human nutrition, but its overload can lead to several health problems, including constipation and liver disorder. We will write to the health department, seeking funds for setting up an iron-elimination plant here, like the one at the Siliguri District Hospital,” he said.

Sources said the water is supplied from the Fulbari water treatment plant and the reservoir at the NBMCH. “We get the water from both the sources. The iron content was higher earlier, while it has come down little bit now,” an NBMCH official said. Relatives of patients at the hospital and Siliguri residents, meanwhile, expressed anger and wondered for how long this had been going on.

“This is supposed to be a premier health institute for people of north Bengal, and today’s revelation has led to all other tall claims about the NBMCH made by the powers that be falling flat,” a Siliguri resident said. Dr Bhattacharya later visited the site where a Super Specialty Block is under construction.