Desperate times require desperate measures. On Thursday, a 35-year-old dengue patient's family paid a private Kolkata hospital in coins.
On Wednesday, B P Poddar Hospital and Research Centre told Sukanta Chhaule's relatives to arrange Rs 40,000 for his discharge the next day.
It set off panic at the Chhaules' Dasnagar home for they neither had cards nor enough cash in denominations other than Rs 500 and Rs 1000. Their offer of a cheque was also rejected.
The Chhaules then frantically WhatsApped friends and well-wishers. The response was overwhelming. They were flooded with coins. By 3 am, they had collected the Rs 40,000.
On Thursday morning, with a large jute bag carrying the coins wrapped in cellophane packs, they arrived at the hospital.
The stunned authorities initially refused to accept the coins, but relented when the family threatened an FIR.
Now, it was the hospital's turn to count the coins. It took six workers three hours to do the job. Sukanta was released at 3 pm.
