The coronavirus pandemic over the course of the past few months has made the entire world look at the medical community in a different light. Doctors, medical officials and health workers have been pushing themselves to unparalleled extremes in terms of putting in additional work hours to treat patients. With paramount challenges laid in front of them due to the ongoing global crisis, the situation has been no different in India as well and Supaul district in Bihar is one where doctors at a COVID-19 care facility have been facing struggles and also adopt new measures to reach out to patients. After heavy rains in the region left the roads waterlogged, doctors are seen using cycle-carts to reach the medical facility where patients are currently undergoing treatment. 

Images and videos showing the plight of a young doctor seated atop a plastic chair is doing the rounds on social media. In one image that has gone viral, we see him on a chair placed on the backside of a green cycle-cart as it wades past the water. The COVID-19 care facility too is seen in the picture, which is an old one-floor building and is surrounded by a plot overgrown with weeds. The doctor identified as Dr Amrendra Kumar said, "This has been the situation for the last two-three days. We can't leave our patients at this time. This is why we have to go even if there are rains and floods,". He, however, has reassured that the patients are on the first floor and their safety is not compromised due to the flood waters. 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that Bihar will likely experience thunderstorms (accompanied by lightning and strong winds) over the next five days till July 19. The IMD has also issued heavy rain alerts for Saturday and Sunday across Bihar. The monsoon rains in the state are coming at a time when the rising spread of COVID-19 cases has been keeping the government on their toes.

A 16-day lockdown will be in effect across Bihar from Thursday in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has so far claimed over 170 deaths in the state. Currently, more than 20,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in the state with 1,320 fresh cases recorded over the past 24 hours, including Bihar BJP President Sanjay Jaiswal and his family members testing positive.