The Kandivli fire accident that claimed six lives and left families battling mounting hospital bills has once again highlighted the urgent need for a dedicated burns unit in Mumbai’s western suburbs. While civic plans exist to create space for burn patients in upcoming hospitals, delays in establishing a specialised unit at a major public hospital continue to raise alarm among victims’ families.
Manoj Kumar, whose wife Putani Gautam also died in the fire, told mid-day, “We had no choice but to admit them to Airoli. There is no burns unit in the western suburbs where immediate treatment is available. Travelling to Navi Mumbai daily is exhausting and financially crushing. We need a burns unit in a BMC or government hospital here so families like ours don’t suffer the same ordeal.”
Two two-wheelers parked outside the shop were gutted in the fire. Pics/Satej Shinde
Police officials confirmed the demand is not unfounded. “From small domestic accidents to large fire incidents, at least three to four burn cases are reported every month in one police station area alone. Across all police stations in the western suburbs, the number would cross 100 a month,” said a senior inspector.
Civic hospitals lagging
The tragedy has put the spotlight back on civic hospitals, where plans for burns units have been stalled. At KEM Hospital, a dedicated burns facility is still “in the last phase.” Although the infrastructure is reportedly ready, no date has been fixed for the inauguration. “The unit is in its final phase and will be available soon,” said Dr Sangeeta Rawat, dean of KEM.
At Bhagwati Hospital in Borivli, 20 beds are planned for burn patients within the general surgery ward, while Bhabha Hospital in Bandra has earmarked six beds for burn care in its second phase. But both facilities remain incomplete. “The ward at Bhagwati will open next year once the hospital is ready by November,” said Dr Nitiraj Mane, CMO of Bhagwati Hospital. At Bhabha, medical superintendent Dr Vinod Khade said the dedicated burn beds may take “at least another year” to be operational. A burns unit was also proposed at Cooper Hospital, but that too remains pending.
