Proximity of hospital helped save victims without delay: Docs

In yet another building collapse on Friday morning, 13 people died and 29 were admitted to JJ Hospital in Byculla, while the rescue operation continued till late night. The ground plus four-storied structure, named Babu Genu Building in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) colony in Dockyard, collapsed early on Friday morning. The hospital superintendent received a call at around 6.45 am informing about the incident, when a batch of patients had already arrived in a taxi. However, the hospital immediately pressed three ambulances into service and a team of seven doctors and paramedics. “Most of the patients have sustained blunt trauma and are experiencing respiratory problems because of the debris and dust. Of the 29 we have admitted, three are extremely critical and on ventilator, and five are critical but stable, while the rest are fairly stable,” said the dean of the hospital, Dr T.P. Lahane. Amongst the injured is also a three-year-old, Bhagyashri Kamble, who sustained blunt trauma on her hip, but is stable. Since the spot where the collapse occurred was very close to the hospital, it was possible for the victims to be brought to the hospital without any delay. “The fact that our hospital is located close by helped us in many ways. Patients reached the hospital within 15-20 minutes and they were immediately tended to,” said Dr Lahane. Fortunately, none of the victims suffered severed limbs, but as many as five patients sustained contused lacerated wound. A list released by the BMC and the hospital late in the evening identified Lakshmi Chavda (60), Jamuna Chavda (30), Anil Chavda (19), Anant Pawar (45), Madhavi Kadam (45), and four unidentified persons among the deceased in the collapse.