Eighteen deaths in a day at public hospital
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital (CSMH) located at Kalwa saw an unprecedented death toll in a span of mere 24 hours with 18 patients losing their life due to various reasons. Nearly 70% of the deaths that occurred were above the age group of 50 years. Of the 18 deceased, 10 were women and eight men. The relatives of patients claimed lack of attention and shortage of staff as the cause of death.
The opposition demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. “This is an unfortunate incident and we have taken it very seriously. Many were referred from private hospitals after their condition became critical. We have the facts and now await a detailed analysis,” said chief minister Eknath Shinde. Public health minister Tanaji Sawant assured appropriate action in case of negligence on the part of hospital officials.
Source: The Times of India
Garbage dumping at Juhu Koliwada
In an email to the senior BMC officials, the citizen group Juhu Buzz highlighted the issue of garbage, at Juhu Koliwada beach, a health hazard for residents. “The sea is throwing out all the waste, and it has been coming out at the northern side of Juhu Beach. The area has a lot of hotels and bungalows there. Hence, the BMC is picking up all the waste from there and dumping it on the southern side, which is Juhu Koliwada. After dumping, the garbage is removed, but the rate of removal is not the same, which resulted in the waste piling up,” said Stanley Raman, a citizen from Juhu Koliwada.
The BMC clarified that the garbage piling at the beach is just temporary and is being done to segregate the waste. “More than 15 –20 trucks are on the spot to pick up waste day and night. The waste collected has a lot of sand. So, we dump it at one spot, segregate and then pick it up, otherwise a lot of sand will be lost. This is just temporary, and this will be cleared soon,” a BMC official said.
Source: The Hindustan Times
Mumbai is India’s most expensive city, says report.
A recent report of the affordability index released by Knight Frank that measures the living affordability based on the EMIs paid by residents to buy a house, reveals what is perhaps known to the citizens already. Mumbai is the most expensive city to live in. The ratio of EMI above 50% is considered to be unaffordable. In Mumbai, the home loan EMI income ratio is more than 55%, which means on average half of the income goes in paying the home loans.
Ahmedabad is the most affordable Indian city according to Knight Frank’s report.
Source: NDTV
Read more: Surging EMI burden affects affordable housing sales in Mumbai
Panvel gets new civic health centres
On Independence Day, the Panvel Municipal Corporation inaugurated new health centres in Kamothe, Khanda Colony and Kalamboli Village. Out of the 15 healthcare centres that are approved by the corporation nine are operational.
These healthcare centres will have treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases, hypertension and diabetes screening, fever, antenatal and newborn care, routine immunisations including Covid-19 vaccination, counselling services, free diagnostic laboratory tests etc. One of the significant facilities is a special outpatient department for senior citizens, open from 2 pm to 4 pm daily.
Source: Mumbai Live
Inadequate, inappropriate burial ground
Claiming that the soil at the burial site in Govandi at Rafi Nagar is inappropriate, the citizens of the M-East ward have asked for a proper and transparent investigation before the graveyard is reopened. The Muslim community in Govandi complain of not having space for burying the dead in the existing cemetery. The bodies are not decomposing, and the residents have complained that in the place of soil, building debris is being used.
“People have to go to Cheeta camp, which is about eight kilometres away, to bury their dead. Even the Cheeta camp cemetery at Trombay is on the verge of closure, said Faiyaz Shaikh, a citizen associated with the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society. The BMC recently conducted tests and claimed that the results were satisfactory, but the residents demanded that the reports must be made public.
Source: The Times of India
Compiled by Stephin Thomas