On January 9, 2021, 10 newborn infants were killed in government-run Bhandara hospital in a fire that broke out in the intensive care unit.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had taken serious note, saying it was the worst-ever tragedy and stern action will be taken against guilty officials. At the time, Thackeray had ordered fire audit of all government-run hospitals across the state.
Bhandara tragedy, however, was followed by two major fire incidents near Mumbai, in which more than two dozen innocent persons lost their lives. Bombay high court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta had taken suo moto cognizance of the tragic incidences. The Chief Justice had observed that such incidents, which are happening quite frequently, were intolerable and called for immediate corrective action.
The HC had called for fire audit of all the government and private hospitals. The public health department informed the high court that all the directives were complied with in keeping with the orders of the CM, and it was expected that all the directives for preventing fires in private and government hospitals are implemented in letter and spirit. Prima facie, it appears that the hospitals, particularly those run by the public health department, did not take government directives seriously. In view of the Ahmednagar hospital fire, in which 11 Corona patients lost their lives, Thackeray should fix the responsibility on the public health secretary, director public health as well as the district collector and civil surgeon. It was also the responsibility of the chief secretary to monitor the situation in hospitals across the state. A former chief secretary said the CM’s statement should not be taken as customary; the bureaucrats at the state and district level must act on it as top priority.
Cong tightens its grip over Nanded
The outcome of the Deglur assembly by-election has strengthened the political position of former CM and public works minister Ashok Chavan. Congress nominee Jeetendra Antapurkar defeated Shiv Sena candidate Subhash Sabane by a huge margin, in fact, the margin was more than the 2019 assembly elections when Raosaheb Antapurkar had defeated the Shiv Sena nominee.
Ever since the by-election plan was declared, while the Congress has already decided its nominee — Jeetendra — there was a question mark over the BJP candidate as the party was in search of a nominee who has elective merit. Leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis had taken keen interest in the by-election. In the last round of talks, Fadnavis persuaded Shiv Sena leader Sabane to quit his party and join BJP on the condition that he will be given nomination. Sabane did join the BJP, and senior BJP leaders, including Fadnavis, campaigned for him, but luck did not favour him. Chavan left no stone unturned during the campaign and ensured that people of Nanded are still loyal to the Congress. People have confidence in the Congress, Chavan had said.
