Irate relatives of patient ransack hospital

Barrackpore, Bengal, Jun 20 (UNI) Irate relatives of a patient today ransacked the Emergency department of the Employees State Insurance Hospital (ESI) at Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas district following the death of a teenager allegedly due to maltreatment by the hospital.

Sudipta Pal (17) from Sodepur was rushed to the ESI hospital with chest pain late last evening.

The hospital authorities referred the patient to the Manicktala ESI hospital in the city, where his ECG was recorded and then returned to Kamarhati hospital without any treatment.

Considering the patient's condition, Kamarhati hospital admitted him this morning but his treatment could not be initiated due to the absence of the Medical Officer, the relatives of the deceased alleged.

While the Medical Officer turned up at 0430 hrs, he could do anything as the patient breathed his last.

The incident infuriated the relatives of the patient and other local people who rushed to the hospital and ransacked it.

Hospital authorities have, however, refuted the charges.

Meanwhile senior police officer rushed to the hospital and brought the situation under control.

No one has been arrested so far in this connection.

UNI XC PP SJC HT1752