BMC orders probe into 'missing' Covid-19 patient found dead

Mumbai, June 9

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered a probe into the mystery death of a Covid-19 patient — who went missing from a suburban civic hospital and later his body was found a few km away — here on Tuesday.

Taking a serious view of the alleged incident, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar visited the Dr BR Ambedkar Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali for an assessment and ordered the inquiry.

Accompanied by BMC Health Committee Chairman Ameya Ghole, Pednekar termed the incident as “unfortunate”, which happened despite a professional private security agency being deployed at the hospital along with CCTVs.

“It was an unfortunate incident. First, a Covid-19 patient goes missing from the hospital and then his body is found. We will probe the incident to know the exact facts in the matter. We shall also seek police help in the matter,” Pednekar told mediapersons.

According to information, the 80-year old man was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after he tested Covid-19 positive, while his family was shunted to quarantine on Sunday.

On Monday, the man was reported to be ‘missing’ from the Covid-19 ward and subsequently his body was found near the Borivali station and brought back to the same hospital as an ‘unidentified’ person. The relatives of the family identified him as their missing kin.

The Mayor’s move came even as state BJP Vice-President Kirit Somaiya made a shocking allegation that in the past few days, at least half-a-dozen such incidents of bodies missing from hospitals or morgues have taken place in the city.

In a related incident, the Rajawadi Hospital ordered a separate probe into the missing body of a 23-year man — an accident victim — from its morgue, five days after the body was shifted there on June 3, and was awaiting clearance after getting the Covid-19 test report.

IANS