Escape of an inmate in civil dress from Yerawada mental hospital on Friday evening, right under the nose of hospital authorities indicates a serious lapse in security arrangement and also exposed another fact - shortage of uniforms for patients. The patient who escaped has been identified as Dhondiram Jaijaram Narote (38).
According to sources, the shortage of uniforms has become a serious problem as it is difficult to differentiate between a visitor and a patient. Taking advantage of this, the patient fled from the hospital on Friday night without being noticed by the supervisor or security personnel.
Hospital superintendent Vilas Bhailume denied the shortage of uniforms but accepted the fact that the patient was in civil dress when he walked away. He further informed that he has written to his seniors asking for fresh stocks to last till May 2014.
Dhondiram’s brother Shivaji had come to meet him from Beed on Friday afternoon. After Shivaji left, Dhondiram followed him. The incident came to light only when the authorities found him missing during evening counting.
Hospital sources said, “We immediately contacted his relatives and informed them about it. Later, we came to know that Narote has walked away with his brother. Our security personnel did not recognise Narote as he was in civil dress.”
Sources further said, “Most of the patients do not have hospital uniforms for last six months. The higher authorities are showing lackadaisical attitude towards this matter. It is necessary to provide uniforms to the patient,”
Moreover, the Yerawada police have claimed that the hospital does not have adequate security and they have also recommended them to construct a new compound wall. Speaking to dna, assistant police inspector Shivaji Bendre of Yerawada police station said, “We have discussed the issue with the hospital authorities and have suggested them to increase their security but they claimed that they do not have enough funds.”
According to hospital authorities, the patients come out from their wards between 7 am to 11 am. Later, the visitors are allowed to meet patients till 4 pm.
