Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over waterlogging at KEM Hospital On May 26 during the heavy rains and directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to urgently inspect the hospital and suggest remedial measures. The court heard the matter following media reports highlighting patients sitting in ankle-deep water inside the hospital premises.
In 2023, the HC had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the high number of deaths at government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. Several infants had died in these hospitals due to a shortage of staff and medical equipment, particularly ventilators.
HC had appointed advocate Mohit Khanna as amicus curiae (friend of court) to assist with the matter.
On Thursday, Khanna submitted printouts of news articles and photographs showing the hospital’s pediatric department inundated with rainwater. “Report suggests water entered MRI rooms and others. It is monsoon and the situation is worsening,” said Khanna.
He referred to a previous order dated December 14, 2024, which indicated that the court was monitoring healthcare infrastructure across Maharashtra, starting with select hospitals and expanding thereafter.
On a query from a vacation bench of Justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sunderesan, additional government pleader PP Kakade informed the court that the flooding occurred in a corridor due to the hospital being in a low-lying area. However, the court was unimpressed. “There has to be some solution. Hospital can’t be flooded like this,” it observed.
Recalling the hospital’s past reputation, the court noted, “KEM hospital was topmost in India. People from all over used to come. See the condition now—something has to be done. KEM management cannot allow such waterlogging. Hospital has to be hygienic. Basic cleanliness has to be there.”
The court directed Kakade to take instructions from the health department and report back on measures being taken. Issuing notice to BMC, the court said, “Corporation (Officers) is expected to visit KEM and suggest remedial measures to the management of the hospital.”
The PIL will now be heard on June 16. The court has directed the state and BMC to file affidavits detailing the steps taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
