Death occurred intermittently within two weeks of July this year at Asha Kiran in Rohini, the only government-run facility for patients with mental disorders in Delhi, which caused panic and reinvigorated claims of negligence including poor living conditions.
The medical department sources and documents from Asha Kiran seen by The Times of India show that 12 inmates died between July 15 and July 31. Symptoms were the same – not being able to move and vomiting. In fact, bodies of dead prisoners and inmates who are unable to receive treatment at the asylum usually go to Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital situated about two kilometers away.
According to hospital sources in the forensic department who preferred anonymity, ten women and two men are among those who have passed on. Between July 1st and 15th there was only one body sent for postmortem indicating an increase during the next fortnight warranting investigations. In effect, it is understood that several other detainees are getting attention at hospitals currently. There is a high number of patients requiring urgent medical consultations outside hospital as revealed by health records agency: “Many inmate’s initial case summaries showed symptoms of loose stools (diarrhea), but final FSL report will give cause of death.”
Tested water samples after shelter death
Anjali Sehrawat, Delhi government social welfare department director has admitted in a times’ interview that there was an upsurge in the death incidents at Asha Kiran but dismissed that it could have reached twelve people within the second week last month. However, she gave no figures on this point. “Prisoner deaths have gone up recently but many reasons can be attributed,”Sehrawat said.
Admitting that these prisoners had similar symptoms, Sehrawat confirmed: “After fifteenth day of July we did get complaints about a larger number showing above signs so we initiated an inquiry thereafter; though, remember that weather last week was very humid and hot, causing the prisoners to experience severe illness.
“Water samples have been taken by Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (ISDP) and they will give us a report after confirming whether there has been water contamination. We will also investigate allegations of serving outside food to children in this regard. Moreover, once the post-mortem report is out we shall also check if there is any food While the report on poisoning by which killed prisoner was reported next week,” she said.
The data from Asha Kiran Medical Centre indicates that monthly deaths have only ranged from two to three since January 2024. The number of deaths increased dramatically in July.
TOI has been disbursed on a monthly basis.
“We deny that more patients were sent outside in July. However, it is good that more inmates are being referred for specialized examination as our center at Asha Kiran carries out only preliminary investigations,” Sehrawat said.
The clinic was established in 1989 as an alternative by the department of social welfare to handle about 500 inmates at one go, a figure that has since tripled. Overcrowding is acute problem with 10 boys’ dormitories and 10 girls’ dormitories on the compound. It has approximately 6 doctors plus close to 17 nurses to help patients.
Asha Kiran has experienced controversy before. In a report published last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pointed out this concern. It noted that ‘there were not proper facilities for immediate medical response; it was overburdened and shortage of staff’. While the CAG review put its capacity at 350, it had since increased.
According to this report, between 2009-14 there were a total of 148 deaths. There was also lack of seriousness in efforts by the Asha Kiran complex department to decongest itself”. Besides, in another report released by Delhi Women’s Commission in January, it argued that hospital conditions remained very low.
Delhi government did not respond when asked about these allegations.
Coincidentally, Raaj Kumar Anand resigned from both the government and party positions in April before joining BJP but till now social welfare department has yet been reallocated.
