In the last 24 hours, a devastating tragedy unfolded at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa, Thane, where a total of 18 patients lost their lives, as somberly conveyed by civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Sunday. The composition of the deceased reflects a heart-wrenching reality: among the departed, there were 10 women and eight men. Within this mournful assembly, six hailed from Thane city, four from Kalyan, three from Sahapur, and one each from Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, and Govandi (Mumbai). In addition, there was one patient from an unspecified location. Notably, a poignant detail emerged – twelve of those who passed away were aged 50 or above, underscoring the impact on the elderly demographic, according to media reports.
These individuals were struck by a diverse range of ailments, a fact underscored by Abhijit Bangar, who revealed that the patients' conditions included complications from kidney stones, chronic paralysis, ulcers, pneumonia, kerosene poisoning, and septicemia.
The unfolding situation prompted a sequence of responses and actions from various officials and entities involved. Initially, state health minister Tanaji Sawant and Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde indicated a death toll of 17. However, subsequent clarification was provided by civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar, who confirmed the grim count as 18.
In response to the severity of the circumstances, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took immediate steps by instituting an independent probe committee. This committee, as elucidated by Abhijit Bangar, would be led by the commissioner of health services and would feature members including the collector, civic chief, director of health services, an interventionist from the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai, and a civic surgeon. The primary focus of this committee would be to rigorously investigate the clinical aspects surrounding these unfortunate deaths. Additionally, the committee would address the serious allegations of negligence leveled by the families of the deceased.
The ramifications of this tragedy reverberated through the political landscape, with leaders expressing concerns and demanding appropriate actions. Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), conveyed his deep sorrow and criticized the administration's lack of response despite a previous instance of multiple deaths at the facility within a single day. Girish Mahajan, a BJP leader and Maharashtra minister, deemed the occurrence of "16 deaths" in a single day within a hospital designed for a capacity of 500 as a matter of grave concern. Meanwhile, Jitendra Awhad, an NCP leader and MLA from the region, deplored the alleged mismanagement at the hospital and urged the administration to rectify the situation urgently. He additionally advocated for compensating the kin of the deceased with an amount of Rs 50 lakh.
The response of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde did not escape scrutiny either. Jitendra Awhad criticized Shinde for a perceived delay in addressing the issue, citing an earlier incident involving five deaths at the same facility. The shortcomings in healthcare facilities within Shinde's own stronghold were highlighted by NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto and NCP chief Jayant Patil, who both criticized the administration's apparent lack of attention to the region's healthcare needs.
Amidst this political discourse, the hospital's operational capacity emerged as a significant factor. Naresh Mhakse, former Thane mayor and spokesperson of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, indicated that the hospital was grappling with an overwhelming patient load of 650 per day, surpassing its intended capacity of 500. The ongoing renovation of the Thane civil hospital compounded this issue, causing an influx of patients to the Kalwa facility.
Meanwhile, practical challenges affecting the hospital's functioning came to light. Some doctors were reportedly afflicted with dengue, hampering the hospital's operations. Additionally, sources noted that the Thane civil hospital, boasting 300 beds, was operating at only 50 Percent of its capacity.
In light of the situation, BJP MLC Niranjan Davkhare suggested a shift of patients from the Kalwa facility to Thane civil hospital, with medical personnel from the latter being deployed in Kalwa. He also emphasized the need to engage private hospitals to mitigate the strain on medical facilities.
Local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav echoed the sentiment of proactive measures, urging improvements in the hospital's efficiency. Kedar Dighe, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the authorities for alleged medical lapses and insufficient planning to manage challenges stemming from the relocation of the civil hospital.
Expressing the collective sentiment, Thane Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare stressed the imperative of preventing the recurrence of such incidents, while also revealing complaints about patients being charged for certain services.
As the gravity of the situation reached the ears of Maharashtra's Chief Minister, he responded with a mixture of grief and determination. The Chief Minister termed the 18 deaths within the past 24 hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa as painful and unfortunate. He further disclosed that a high-level committee, under the stewardship of the state health director, would undertake an exhaustive inquiry into the matter. This committee, as per the Chief Minister's statement, would be tasked with formulating actions based on its findings.
Adding to this, an official release from the Chief Minister's office revealed that he was being kept apprised of the situation, with both the state health minister Tanaji Sawant and Thane guardian minister Sambhuraj Desai monitoring developments closely.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasized that the patients in question were in critical condition, many having been referred to the hospital by private medical institutions. He clarified that these patients had been admitted on different days and were grappling with a range of ailments.
