In yet another unfortunate example of anguish in the face of death of loved ones causing people to resort to violence, angry relatives of a woman who died of Covid on Tuesday morning at the Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar, Delhi, attacked doctors and nurses and vandalized hospital property.
Many images of the aftermath of the attack are circulating on social media showing blood spilled on the floor. Police had to be called in to control the situation. TRIGGER WARNING: Disturbing visuals:
A spokesperson of the hospital has confirmed the incident, and the hospital has issued an official statement saying, “The hospital received a lady in a critical condition at the Emergency in the early hours of April 27. Immediate medical attention appropriate to her condition was given by the team. Given the paucity of beds, the family was advised to shift the patient to another facility with available beds. Unfortunately, the patient died at around 8 A.M, post which the patient’s family members resorted to vandalism, destruction of hospital property and assault on our doctors and staff. The situation was brought under control through hospital security staff and use of the police.”
The hospital also said, “While the hospital deeply condoles the death of the patient, it is deeply shocked at the behaviour of the patient’s family against doctors and healthcare workers who are providing untiring services amidst the pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Delhi remains one of the worst affected regions in the country and administrative apathy and ineptitude is evident in their priorities. Just today, SabrangIndia had reported on how a hundred rooms in central Delhi’s Ashoka Hotel have been booked to serve as a Covid-19 care centre for judges, judicial officers of the Delhi High Court, and their families. Delhi has reported over 20,201 Covid-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours, with a positivity rate of over 35%. Meanwhile, the lockdown extension in Delhi has not affected work at Central Vista, one of the most expensive construction projects in the city. According to a report in The Scroll, construction work at the Central Vista project, which got the go ahead from the Supreme Court in January 2021, continues. Meanwhile, the Central Vista project has been declared an “essential service”.
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