SSKM teems with mourning relatives

By late evening,the SSKM hospital in Kolkata was teeming with relatives of those who had died in the catastrophic fire at the AMRI hospital. At the morgue,the victims,some suffering some recovering and some ready to be released had become numbers. The SSKM hospital morgue did not have enough space to accommodate the 89 bodies that were dumped.

Swapan Mohanta,a 40-year-old resident of Asansol had a tragic end,too. An injury in spinal cord brought Mohanta to AMRI hospital a week ago. After the middle class family arranged for money,Swapan was operated yesterday and could sit straight on his bed for the first time since the accident. Rupa Mohanta,his sister,said,“Yesterday we were happy to see his progress and today we are waiting for his body from the morgue.”

D N Mahato (69) of Garia,who was admitted in the hospital for almost one-and-a- half months ago for treatment of his kidney,died inside the hospital. Udai Sinha,his son-in-law,said,“Both of his kidneys had failed and he was on dialysis. We have paid Rs 21 lakh to the hospital for his treatment. We just wanted some relief for him from his pain but negligence by authorities cut short his life.”