On November 6, Dr. Vishakha Shinde, a senior resident on Covid duty in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Ahmed Nagar Regional Hospital, reported that he was working as usual. Her day was shortened by a fire in the intensive care unit, which resulted in the death of 11 Covid patients. Within 72 hours, the 27-year-old Shinde found himself in a district prison along with nurses Sapna Pathare, Asma Shaikh and Channa Anant.

Eleven days later, the four people continued to be detained, although officials have not yet taken action on the preliminary investigation, which revealed that the hospital does not have a fire certificate and its sprinklers are not functional. Although the fire was suspected to be caused by a short circuit, the police are still waiting for an electrical inspection report. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sent a letter to the state government, claiming an attempt to “shirk” the responsibility on medical personnel, while the state medical association is seeking a “fair investigation.” Dr. Shinde’s father, Rajendra Popat Shinde, a teacher at a retired school, asked his daughter if she was used as a scapegoat to save government officials’ “negligence” in the last year of her MD.

“My daughter is not a firefighter… She is just a medical student. Now, she is being blamed for her death, and the hospital does not even have a fire NOC,” Rajendra said. In addition to arresting the doctor and three nurses on duty when the fire broke out, the state government also suspended the positions of Dr. Sunil Pokharna, a civil surgeon in Ahmednagar, and Dr. Suresh Dhakne, a medical officer. Dr. Shinde and others were arrested in the IPC department on November 9th for 304 (manslaughter) and 304A (for negligent death). They were presented at the district court and were remanded in judicial detention until November 24. The district court will hear their bail application on Thursday.

There were 17 patients in the intensive care unit that day. Of the 11 deaths, 3 died from the fire and 8 died from asphyxiation. One patient died on Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 12 people. Rajendra said that in prison, his daughter “has collapsed.” “She is worried about the stains in her career. She has worked so hard to get to this point. Because of her Covid duties, we couldn’t even see her for a few months,” he said.

The police said that CCTV footage showed that the four arrested were not in the intensive care unit when the fire started. Investigator Sandip Mitke pointed out that Dr. Shinde’s signature was on the call for the hospital on November 6. “A relative entered the combustion chamber twice to save patients. If these workers were in the unit, they could have saved more lives,” said a police officer involved in the investigation.

News Source : The Indian Express