Child patients are being deprived of proper treatment at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital as the hospital's paediatric ward has remained closed for two weeks due to Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha.

Hospital sources said child patients are now undergoing treatment at surgery ward, which struggle to cope with an influx of patients.

While visiting the hospital yesterday, this correspondent saw at least 20 child patients along with their mothers took shelter on the floor of the surgery ward due to lack of beds, sources added. However, the hospital authorities said the paediatric ward will reopen today.

"My four-month-old daughter has been suffering from pneumonia since Eid Day. I along with my daughter is now staying on the floor of the surgery ward," said Rahima Begum of Kulaghat village under Sadar upazila.

Zinat Begum of Shiberkuti village in thesame upazila said her five months old son has been suffering from fever since Eid Day. "He was admitted to the surgery ward on the day due to closure of the hospital's paediatric ward," she said, adding that her son is now lying on the floor of the ward for lack of bed.

"As child patients are not getting proper treatment at the surgery ward, I took my three-year-old son to a local clinic in the town on Wednesday," said Hamidul Haque of Durakuti village in Sadar upazila.

Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Nabiur

Rahman said doctors of the hospital are providing proper treatment to child patients at the surgery ward. "Mothers and their kids face a bit problem due to a sudden surge of patients," the RMO said, adding that the problem will be solved in a day or two.