In a bizarre incident, a COVID-19 positive patient’s body was found at a bus stand in Ahmedabad on Friday, 15 May.
The 67-year-old patient was admitted to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on 10 May and he tested positive two days later, his son told The Quint. “On 15 May, we received a call from the police saying my father’s body was found at the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) station near Danilimda Crossing in Ahmedabad.”
Police officials told The Quint that the man was asymptomatic and had filled the form for home isolation. Following that, a bus arranged by the authorities had taken the patient from the civil hospital.
Dr MM Prabhakar, the officer on special duty at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said “The patient had very mild symptoms and as per new protocols, he was asked to home quarantine. He was discharged on 14 May (a day before his body was found). When he was being discharged, he was adequately fit.”
Prabhakar said, “The hospital’s transport system took him from the hospital but probably because the road was congested near his house, he was dropped at a neighbouring bus stand.” He added, “It is not immediately clear whether his family members were informed about his discharge.”
Why was he dropped at a bus stand? Why was his family not informed during his release? The police said the matter “is under investigation.”
The patient’s son said, “Despite my father being a COVID patient, the family members carried out the cremation procedure. We were just asked to wrap his body in plastic.”
A set of guidelines issued by the ICMR has laid out down the precautions that need to be taken while cremating a person who either tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected to have the contracted the virus. You can read the guidelines here.
Gujarat CM Orders Immediate Probe
Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe into the incident. The inquiry will be conducted by the ex-additional chief secretary of the health department, Rajiv Gupta. He has been asked to submit a report within 24 hours.
Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani slammed the Rupani administration, which has already come under the scanner for poor management of the COVID-19 crisis. Mevani tweeted, “ Mr. Rupani take moral responsibility and step down. This is just criminal.”
Mevani also said, “The Gujarat model has been exposed and instead of taking responsibility, the government is busy managing headlines.”
This is not the first case of gross negligence being reported at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. On 24 April, around 25 coronavirus patients had to spend six hours on the streets after they were denied admission to the hospital. The authorities had sprung into action only after one of the patients recorded a video and shared it on social media.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)