Times of India: Panicky mobs damage hospitals

[Guest guest]

Here is another breaking

story update on the subject from the Times of India

Panicky mobs damage

hospitals

http://is.gd/d0qs

BANGALORE: The polio panic wave

continued on Monday morning, with parents clutching little ones and thronging

city hospitals. Rumour mills had churned out shocking tales through Sunday

night about kids falling sick, and even dying.

Hospital corridors were packed with families. Shehnaz, a mother of two from

Ilyasnagar, had come to Vani

Vilas Hospital

to consult the paediatrician. "I heard from neighbours that children were

falling sick after the vaccination. I am a bit worried and wanted confirmation

from doctors,'' she said.

Many parents, though aware it was a rumour, did not want to take chances.

Suvita, who came with her 5-year-old daughter to the OPD of Bowring and Lady Curzon

Hospital, said,

"Everyone is saying it is a rumour, but I want to be sure."

Agitated crowds also damaged window panes and doors of hospitals, and scattered

drug bottles around.

BOWRING

HOSPITAL

Around 11.15 pm on Sunday, hundreds entered the hospital premises and ransacked

the hospital. Two doctors were manhandled, a pharmacist was injured and a staff

nurse slapped by the mob.

A police complaint has been lodged by the staff. The losses were assessed to be

around Rs 3-4 lakh. Chairs were used to break window panes at the paediatric

department and casualty ward, and computers were damaged. Later, the police

took control.

Three paediatricians and four house surgeons attended to the patients. Around

750 children were examined and none was admitted for treatment with regard to

pulse polio administration. The mob also disrupted treatment.

A note detailing the incident was submitted to the director and dean, Bangalore Medical College

and Research Centre and health department officials, H Satishchandra, medical

superintendent, said.

VANI VILAS HOSPITAL

Around 5,000 children were treated between 11 pm on Sunday and 6 am on Monday.

The hospital made special arrangements to attend to the children, but no one

was admitted.

Resident medical officer Dr Narayan Gowda said parents were still coming in,

just to confirm that their children were fine.

Mobs forcibly entered the hospital and broke window panes and pulled down

doors, he said.

CSI HOSPITAL

People entered the Church of South India Hospital, Shivajinagar, and broke

doors, window panes and tore off posters about the pulse polio vaccination.

Deputy medical superintendent Dr Christi Dominic Savio said there was

"complete chaos'' between 11 pm Sunday and 2.30 am on Monday. A doctor was

also manhandled.

OTHER HOSPITALS

Many hospitals had to call additional doctors from other hospitals or P-G

students to meet the demand.