India: Parents allege negligence by Bhopal hospital after fire at children ward kills four
‘Our baby is kept in ward number 1 but the staff is saying that he is not ours’
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Parents of children admitted to Kamla Nehru Hospital in Bhopal alleged negligence on part of the staff after four children died in a fire at the facility on Monday. They also claimed that the hospital staff was not letting them meet their children.
“My child is eight years old, she had her operation. Earlier I was told that she had died but later they said she is alive. But they are not letting me meet my child since the night. There was smoke everywhere,” said Vikram, a parent while talking to ANI.
Yashoda, a relative of one of the children said, “Our baby is kept in ward number 1 but the staff is saying that he is not ours. We have the photos of our child. No one identifies our child more than us. But they are telling us that we will get the dead body of our child. Why should we take the body of some other child?”
Amin, another parent said to ANI that he was called to the hospital at night and was made to roam around for at least two hours before his child was declared dead by the doctors.
“It is because of the incompetence of the hospital administration that these children died. Four children have been declared dead, what about the other children admitted in the ward?” he asked.
Another parent demanded that her child should be handed back to her.
Asked about these allegations the Divisional Commissioner, Bhopal Gulshan Bamra said: “The incident is highly unfortunate. Our counsellors are talking to the parents of 36 children who are currently in a critical condition. The building is old, the flaws in its facilities are being investigated. The premises damaged due to fire is being reconstructed once again.”
Four children died after the children’s ward of the hospital caught fire on Monday night. As per state Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang, 36 other children inside the ward are safe. Sarang also announced an ex gratia of Rs400,000 for the parents of each deceased child.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that a probe has been ordered into the incident. The chief minister also assured that strict action will be taken against the guilty.
“It is an unfortunate incident. A probe has been ordered into the incident. This is a case of criminal negligence. Stringent action will be taken against those found guilty,” tweeted Chouhan.
The chief minister further said both government and private hospitals in the state will undergo fire safety audits in the wake of this incident.
Congress workers, meanwhile, staged a protest outside the hospital. Heavy police deployment was made near the hospital to stop party workers from going inside.
Archana Jaiswal, president of Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress, told reporters, “Why can’t I go inside the hospital? Why can’t a woman go inside? I am a woman, a mother, a public representative and president of the Mahila Congress. Why should I not go when a mother is crying and a father is saying that he would not accept a dead child after he was given the wrong body? Do I have a gun in my hand? These officers do not apprehend thieves, but are apprehending me.”
Congress leader PC Sharma said that he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the issue.
“It is chaotic. Women are standing looking out for their children and grandchildren who are undergoing treatment. But the government has failed. It is the responsibility of the health department and the Chief Minister. A sitting high court judge should probe the matter,” he added.