72-YEAR-OLD COVID PATIENT GOES MISSING FROM HOSPITAL

IN THANE

THANE: A 72-year-old paralysed Covid-19 patient has gone missing from the recently inaugurated Global Hub Corona Hospital in Thane. The man’s family approached the Kapurbawdi police station on Monday, after which a missing person’s complaint was filed. Officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) refused to comment.

The missing person, a Kalwa resident, requires a walker or support to walk.

“We have filed a missing complaint after the relatives of the person approached us with their complaint on Monday evening. We have sent our teams to search for the man,” said Sanjay Nimbalkar, inspector, Kapurbawdi police station.

According to the complaint, the authorities on Sunday informed the person’s family members that they could not find him.

“My father-in-law tested positive on June 29 and was admitted to Global Hub Corona Hospital. All other family members were quarantined. The next day we were told that he was feeling better, but we did not receive any calls from the hospital after that. On calling the reception, we were told that he was fine and they told us his bed number and floor. However, after a few days, they started giving vague answers, following which we contacted a doctor who said she could not find him in the hospital,” said his daughter-in-law.

The family then sought help from a local residents’ organisation and got permission for one family member to enter the hospital wearing a PPE kit to search for the patient. However, after they could not locate him, the family approached the police station.

Global Hub Corona Hospital, a 1,024-bed facility, was recently inaugurated by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.