Of the 41 persons injured in the Malad wall collapse and admitted in Kandivali’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital, half are fit for discharge. But with no homes left to return to, the hospital has kept them as ‘social admissions’ till shelter is arranged.
“It is a sensitive issue now,” said medical superintendent Pradeep Angre. “We cannot force these patients out as their homes have been destroyed. So we are treating them like social admissions. Some of the patients who could stay with relatives or friends have moved out but others are reluctant to leave,” Dr. Angre added.
The wall of a reservoir in the city’s northwestern suburb came crashing down during heavy rainfall on July 1, killing as many as 29 people, injuring more than 100 others and destroying over a 100 shanties in Malad’s Kurar village. The injured were rushed to Mumbai’s five city government-run hospitals, with a majority admitted in the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital.
On Friday, Assistant Commissioner of P North ward, Sanjog Kabare, visited the hospital and collected details of the families who were there. “There is no clarity on how much time the rehabilitation procedure will take,” said Dr. Angre. “We have requested the civic authorities to move the patients into a charitable home or a school till their rehabilitation is finalised so that they don’t have to occupy hospital beds”, he added.
Among those who have made the hospital a temporary home is Alka Sakpal, 50, who lost her eldest daughter in the disaster. Her two other children remain hospitalised despite being fit for discharge. “Where will we go,” asked Ms. Sakpal. “One can stay at a relative’s house for a few days but not for long,” she added.
Uttam Sharma, 32, who had injuries to both legs, and his wife Jyoti also remain hospitalised, along with their six-month-old son Ayush. “The baby was fit for discharge on the third day after the incident,” said Dr. Angre. “The mother and father have recovered now but are still in the hospital,” he added.
Civic officials are in talks with the forest department to rehabilitate the victims by relocating them to Mahul. However, victims are reluctant to shift to Mahul due to poor living conditions. “We are also looking for other alternative places for rehabilitation,” said Mr. Kabare.
