Though state-of-the-art equipment like GeneXpert is available for the diagnosis of tuberculosis within two hours — the system can even tell whether the disease is in the initial stage or is the deadly MDR-TB — at the microbiology department of BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, basic facilities like a healthy diet, air-conditioners, geysers, fans and clean linen remain elusive.

A pulmonary TB patient rests on the floor to compensate for the lack of a fan in the ward