KEM hospital fire: Baby who lost arm must get compensation

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC administration has refused to compensate the twomonthold baby who lost his arm after a fire at KEM Hospital left him with severe burns During the standing committee meeting on Wednesday corporators from across parties demanded that the childs kin be compensated and the head of KEM Hospital be suspendedBaby Prince Rajbhar who was placed in a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit ICU at KEM Hospital a civic hospital in Parel suffered 22 per cent burns around midnight on Wednesday last week His left arm was amputated on Monday evening Also suffering from congenital heart disease he continues to be in a ventilatorPrince and other victims are not getting compensation as there isnt any policy for it The policy is a longstanding demand but the BMC administration has turned a blind eye towards it said Rais Shaikh group leader of Samajwadi Party in the BMC He demanded Rs 10 lakh for Prince on the lines of the of the compensation given to the victims of the Malad water reservoir wall collapseBut Additional Municipal Commissioner Pravin Darade refused to declare any compensation A detailed inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken accordingly he saidVictims of the wall collapse earlier this year were given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh by both the BMC and the state government while the inquiry was being carried outStanding committee member Prabhakar Shinde demanded immediate suspension of the KEM Dean Dr Hemant Deshmukh The inquiry can be done while the concerned officer is on suspension Dont take action only against the junior staff he saidRajeshree Shirvadkar member of the standing committee asked the administration to explain their stand on the issue Ravi Raja leader of the opposition said that if BMC can shower crores of rupees on paperwork and consultation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan why not for Princes family Why doesnt BMC declare compensation for a child who has lost his arm said RajaA policy for compensation for victims of various mishaps has been a longpending demand of corporators However except in the case of victims of treefalls the BMC does not have a compensation policyCompensation has to be given in this case In fact the BMC can be prosecuted for negligence It wont be an ordinary compensation as it would also commensurate with the loss of a limb that is going to affect the childs life and ability to earn in the future said advocate Rizwan MerchantDr Suleiman Merchant former dean of Sion Hospital said It was an accident and wasnt really anyones fault However it happened on the premises of the hospital and the loss of a limb will have a psychological effect on the child As a goodwill gesture the BMC can offer an artificial limb Itll help the child feel equal to others around him He added that either the BMC can finance it or opt for crowdfundingPrince has congenital heart disease and had pneumonia when he was admitted to KEM Hospital earlier this month An inquiry will be carried out by the civic bodys Mechanical and Electrical Department Dr Ramesh Bharmal the director of major civic hospitals will be monitoring itIn July this year the BMC administration in a written response to corporators demand for a compensation policy for various mishaps had said during the general body meeting that it would not be possible Many projects are undertaken by contractors and the compensation will be given under the general conditions of the contract Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had said thenInfants father files FIR against KEM staffThe Bhoiwada cops have an filed an FIR against the employees responsible for maintenance of electrical equipment in the ward where an infants hand was burnt in the fire in the ICU at KEM hospital The infant Prince Rajbhars father Pannilal approached the police on Wednesday The baby Prince Rajbhars left arm had to be amputated on Monday The FIR has is filed under IPC section 338 causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others We have filed a case against unknown people said an officer from Bhoiwada police station Anurag KambleCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates