Delhi: At two branches of hospital that caught fire, no sign of staff, doors shut

Aakash said they didn’t know about the facility until a doctor at Ghai hospital in Faridabad’s Sector 9 asked them to go there. “My daughter was born on May 22… doctors at Ghai hospital told us she developed an infection and was unable to breathe. They referred us to this hospital where she was admitted to the ICU for four days. She was discharged on Saturday at 4.30 pm,” he said.

The couple — Aakash and Jyoti — brought their daughter, who is yet to be named, to meet Dr Khichi. She had been admitted to the Faridabad branch for four days. (Express Photo by Ankita Upadhyay)

Aakash and Jyoti asked neighbours about when the facility would open. No one knew. “We paid Rs 25,000 to this hospital as fees for four days,” Aakash said. “Ye sasta tha or ghar ke pass tha isliye aa gaye (This was affordable and close to our home,” he said.

The Faridabad chapter was in a building which also housed a private office of an architect on the ground floor and a gym in the basement. In the garage, several oxygen cylinders were lying behind a parked car. An ambulance with the name Baby Care New Born Hospital painted in red was also parked on the road.

An ambulance with the name Baby Care New Born Hospital painted in red is seen parked on the road. (Express Photo by Ankita Upadhyay)

“A lot of newborn children carried by their parents are their patients. This place remains very crowded during the morning and evening,” said Kanhaiya Kumar, who worked in the adjoining office.

The Faridabad chapter was in a building which also housed a private office of an architect on the ground floor and a gym in the basement. In the garage, several oxygen cylinders were lying behind a parked car. (Express Photos by Ankita Upadhyay)

Unlike Aakash and Jyoti, Kumar was aware of the fire at the Vivek Vihar branch and the arrest. He said he was shocked to learn about the deaths.

Paschim Vihar branch

On the other side of Delhi, Khichi has another branch of his Baby Care New Born hospital at Paschim Vihar. It was shut today. Located in a two-storey building on the main road in Pocket 2, there was a bakery and gift shop next to the hospital. At the entrance, there were half a dozen oxygen cylinders. At 11 am, a nurse and another staff member loaded them on a mini truck and left. They didn’t agree to talk.

Residents though were ready to talk. “We are very happy it is closed,” said Santosh Khorwal, 50, who lives two blocks away. “The hospital started in 2018 and ever since then, they put oxygen cylinders in our lane, blocking our way. It was a huge risk for all of us,” she said. Santosh and a few other neighbours were discussing the Vivek Vihar tragedy.

On the other side of Delhi, Khichi has another branch of his Baby Care New Born hospital at Paschim Vihar. (Express Photo by Ankita Upadhyay)

Kanak, a 22-year-old who supplies drinking water bottles in the area and runs a cyber cafe opposite the hospital building, claimed residents had filed two complaints against the hospital after a “gas leak” four years ago. “After our complaints, (staff) started to store oxygen cylinders inside his premises.”

Recalling the leak, Kanak said, “There was a loud noise triggered by the leak. We had filed a complaint and spoke to the local MLA,” said Kanak.

He added that Dr Khichi regularly visited this hospital. “I would see him interacting with attendants outside,” he said. “The patients were mostly from Madipur and the jhuggi nearby.”

Kanak said staff abruptly vacated the building on Monday morning.

Rinku, a pharma company delivery agent, had come to deliver a probiotic supplement consignment to the hospital. He was also surprised to see it shut.

A pharma company delivery agent who had come to deliver a probiotic supplement consignment to the hospital was also surprised to see it shut. (Express Photo by Ankita Upadhyay)

Gurgaon branch

Out of the four branches, the one in Gurgaon does not operate any longer. It shut down two years ago. This branch was located in a house in plot number 997 at Sector 15.

“The hospital was open till 2022. They would keep a large number of oxygen cylinders inside the building,” Shankar Mukhiya, who runs a mechanic shop across the road, recalled.

The Gurgaon branch was located in a house in plot number 997 at Sector 15. (Express Photo by Ankita Upadhyay)

Shankar said his niece was also admitted to the hospital when she was born. “After 20 days of treatment, she didn’t survive,” he said.