Investigation finds many counts of negligence responsible for blaze on grid-failure day, when two patients died, but BMC lets hospital off lightly
Activist Janak Keshariya holds up the committee report. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
The response to an RTI query, put forward by an activist, seeking details regarding the investigation into the fire that occurred in Mulund’s Apex Hospital in October last year has revealed that there were several discrepancies in the hospital, which allegedly led to the death of two COVID-19 patients. But the report submitted by a four-member committee appointed to probe the matter only mentions that the hospital has been told to demolish certain illegal structures and that these structures have no connection with the deaths.
ADVERTISEMENT
RTI activist and president of NGO Yuvashahi, Janak Keshariya says the report mentions certain discrepancies, but the committee has ignored all of them.
Fire in generator
On October 12, many cities across the state faced power cuts due to a grid failure. Mulund was without electricity for more than 10 hours. Apex Hospital in Veena Nagar, Mulund West, which had 39 COVID-19 patients, ran on a 250 KV generator for over seven hours. As a result, the cooling system of the generator failed resulting in the fire around 5.30 pm. The hospital immediately started shifting its patients to Fortis Hospital.
Apex Hospital in Mulund West; (right) the generator at the hospital, which caught fire in October last year
One patient was discharged while out of the 38 patients, 16 were in ICU, nine were on oxygen and remaining 13 were on normal beds. During the shifting 82-year-old Pandurang Kulkarni died, while 54-year-old Virendra Singh succumbed the following day. A four-member committee was constituted to probe the incident and find out whether the hospital’s negligence resulted in the deaths.
The committee filed its report in November last year and asked the hospital to demolish some structures, and apart from this, no action was taken. However, RTI activist Keshariya had filed a query demanding the committee’s report, following which it was made available to him.
Second-hand one
Speaking to mid-day, Keshariya said, “The report has some important revelations. First, the generator which had caught fire was a second-hand one, and as per procedure, the hospital is supposed to have a new one. The generator was sold as scrap within four days of the incident and a new one was bought. Hence, the committee does not know whether it caught fire due to overheating or failure of the cooling system.”
The report, which is in mid-day’s possession, further points at certain shortcomings of the hospital. According to the findings, 38 patients were shifted within 42 minutes from the time the fire started. As there was no lift, patients were taken down by the stairs. Also, patients who succumbed were on 100 per cent BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which aids in breathing. However, they were not given BiPAP support till they reached Fortis Hospital.
The committee further mentions that Kulkarni was already in a critical condition at Apex Hospital, but Singh could have been saved if the doctors had done endotracheal intubation.
The report further says that none of the hospital staffers accompanied the patients in the ambulance. Even the patients did not have medical reports or prescription files with them, making it difficult for Fortis Hospital to start treatment.
The Mulund hospital had appointed doctors with qualification of BAMS and BHMS, while those having MD and MS degrees used to visit once a day.
The report points out that if expert doctors were present at the time of the disaster, then it could have been managed well.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
