Shortage of beds in Thane hospital sends 30 jail inmates on a 7-hr spin
Shortage of beds at Thane Civil Hospital led to 30 inmates of Aadharwadi Jail, who tested Covid positive, roaming around for seven hours. The inmates were not even admitted at Don Bosco School and temporary Covid19 hospital, Kalyan. They were finally admitted at Tata Amantra Hospital, Bhiwandi at 7 pm on Monday.
Sources from the jail said that an antigen test for 149 inmates was conducted on Friday. On Monday, they got a report confirming 30 inmates were positive. “Most of them had mild symptoms -cough, cold and fever so we isolated them in a barrack on Friday. On Monday we sent them to Thane Civil Hospital so that they would get proper medicines and oxygen on time," said a police officer.
When contacted, AS Sadhaphule, superintendent of police, Kalyan Aadharwadi Jail confirmed that 30 male inmates had tested positive and were shifted to Thane civil hospital.
"All precautions are taken for the inmates. From giving turmeric milk twice in a day to following diet and immunity medicine if required," said a jail official.
Sources from the jail said the 30 inmates were taken in two ambulances at around 12:30pm. "The hospital staff mentioned it was full and inmates could not be admitted. Requests from the team and superior fell on deaf ears. An hour later, we were asked to move to Don Bosco School, Kalyan. We reached Kalyan at 4 pm but the situation was the same there. At 5pm we left for Tata Amantra hospital, Bhiwandi. They were admitted by 7 pm," said the sources. However, the two ambulances and three police vans comprising 25 to 30 policemen kept roaming for seven hours.
On April 16, FPJ had reported how 198 inmates had tested positive across Maharashtra jails. The data last week showed the lowest at Aadharwadi -- one inmate had tested positive. However, within a week, 30 tested positive. Based on the FPJ report, the Bombay high court had filed a suo motu PIL to decongest the jails. Meanwhile, the prison authorities on Monday started a vaccination drive. Around 200 inmates were vaccinated on the first day.
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