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‘No MRI & No Beds’: Mumbai’s Nair Hospital Struggles Persist Post COVID

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In January 2020, just before the Covid-19 outbreak, Mumbai Central resident Anil Nagre wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging immediate attention to the state of civic and state-run hospitals in the city. He specifically highlighted the deteriorating condition of B Y L Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central, citing a chronic shortage of beds, ICU facilities and essential medicines.

The PM’s Office had reportedly directed the state government to look into the matter. However, five years on, Nagre says little has changed. Recounting a recent ordeal involving his father’s hospitalisation, he called the experience disheartening. “We saw how the healthcare system nearly collapsed during Covid,” he said. “But it seems like the authorities have learned little from the crisis.”

MRI Machine Defunct Since 2023

A recent visit to Nair Hospital revealed that its lone MRI machine, installed in 2009, has been non-functional since late 2023. The machine was declared end-of-life in early 2023 after repeated helium refills failed to keep it running.

Patients in need of urgent MRIs are now being sent to Sion Hospital or to private diagnostic centres under BMC-approved rates. One relative of a trauma patient said they had no choice but to opt for a private centre nearby due to the patient’s critical condition. The lack of an in-house MRI facility has caused treatment delays and added financial burdens for many.

Although a new 3T MRI machine has been sanctioned in the BMC budget, its installation has been delayed due to procurement hurdles. The delay is also affecting clinical training for radiology students.

Overburdened and Under-Resourced

Nair Hospital is one of Mumbai’s largest civic-run tertiary care hospitals, with approximately 1,652 beds. It caters to patients from across Mumbai, including suburbs like Thane, Palghar and Bhiwandi, and even from rural Maharashtra. Around 30% of its patients come from outside the city for affordable treatment.

Despite its importance, the hospital continues to struggle with outdated infrastructure and frequent equipment failures. With high patient inflow, several wards, including general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and obstetrics, routinely exceed their capacity. It’s not uncommon for two or more patients to be accommodated on stretchers or even on the floor.

Basic Amenities Still a Challenge

Patients’ relatives raised concerns about lack of basic amenities. “Water is only available on the ground and seventh floors. If your patient is admitted elsewhere, you have to keep climbing up and down,” said caregiver Wasim Ansari.

He also mentioned that fans inside some lifts don’t work. “Lighting is another issue,” added Sumit Patil, who was attending to a relative. “Some parts of the building are dimly lit or completely dark at night. It feels unsafe.”

Hospital Response

Hospital dean Dr Shailesh Mohite stated that instances of patients sharing beds or being accommodated on the floor are not frequent. “This happens only when there is a sudden rush,” he said. A treating doctor added, “We can’t send patients back. If needed, we accommodate them somehow.”

Regarding the MRI issue, Dr Mohite said the BMC’s central purchase department is responsible for procurement. “We have already raised the demand,” he said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Hajra, wife of builder Riaz in Kurla, accused of illegal abortion, Kherwadi police registers case against mother

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Mumbai: An incident has come to light in Mumbai in which a case has been registered against a mother for illegally aborting a pregnancy. Kherwadi police have registered a case of abortion against the second wife of Kurla builder Riaz Shah. On December 7, Riaz Shah’s son filed a complaint in which it was stated that Hajra Shah had miscarried a 24-month-old child. The abortion was done using contraception in 2024 and on the complaint of this illegal act, the police have registered a case against Hajra and her brother Ashfaq under sections 88, 91, 238 of the BNS. This is the first case of its kind in which a case has been registered against the mother for wasting contraception. In 2024, when Riaz Shah asked his wife where the child was, she said that she had miscarried and that she had done the autopsy of the newborn in the Kurla Sunni graveyard and her brothers Ashfaq and Imran Lado knew about this. When Riaz checked in the graveyard, no record of the newborn was found, after which the police registered a case of misleading and aborting the child. Junaid Riaz Shah has filed a complaint against Liya. The police are investigating the matter further.

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Maharashtra

Thane Traffic Update: Road Diversions Announced Between Kalyan-Dombivli Till December 21 For Water Supply Work | Know Alternate Routes

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Thane: The Thane Police has announced major traffic diversions in parts of Kalyan-Dombivli due to water pipeline work at Dombivali East’s Kolegaon area. According to the official notification by the Thane Police, due to the ongoing work to replace the main water pipeline under the 12th water supply scheme at Kolegaon, traffic on the Kolegaon Square–Premier Ground–Kalyan Shil Road route will be affected till December 21.

The traffic diversions will be effective from 12 am on December 9 until 1 am on December 21.

All types of vehicles coming from Kolegaon Chowk towards Premier Maidan, Kalyan Shil Gate will be ‘closed’ at Dombivli East’s Kolegaon Chowk. Alternate Route The said vehicles will travel along the Badlapur Pipe Line to Rohane Katai Badlapur Chowk and from there onwards to the desired destination.

– Entry for all types of vehicles from Kolegaon to Kolegaon Chowk will be closed in front of the Shiv Sena branch in Kolegaon. Alternative route The said vehicles will proceed from near Premier Maidan to the Hanhat location via Kanyat Shik Road.

Meanwhile, a 15-hour water supply cut was announced today, December 9, due to maintenance work on the water supply network. The water supply is scheduled to remain shut from 9 am to midnight today, and several areas of Dombivali West and East are said to be affected.

The maintenance work scheduled today involves replacing the filter bed outlet pipeline at the Netivli Water Purification Centre and conducting repairs on the water distribution system in the Dombivli division.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Opposition Leaders Stage Protest Against State Govt’s Continued Neglect Of Farmers

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Nagpur: The second day of the Maharashtra Legislature’s Winter Session on Tuesday saw the opposition staging a forceful protest over what they termed the state government’s “continued neglect” of farmers.

Accusing the MahaYuti government of apathy, opposition leaders said that despite repeated assurances, the situation on the ground has worsened, with farmer suicides reportedly averaging eight per day.

Leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar and Aaditya Thackeray, said the government had “misled” farmers with promises of a comprehensive loan waiver that remains unimplemented.

They also criticised the administration for failing to ensure a fair Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key crops.

The opposition further alleged that the government’s decision to reduce import duty on cotton to zero has triggered a surge in foreign cotton imports, severely hurting domestic growers.

They said soybean procurement centres are yet to start operations this season, adding to farmers’ distress. They also hit out at the government for the delay in disbursing bonus payments for paddy.

Soybean farmers have said that they are compelled to sell their produce in the open market below the MSP level, which hardly covers their costs. This, they say, has deepened their financial crisis in rural households.

Raising slogans such as “Deceitful Government!”, “Waive Farmers’ Loans!” and “Ensure Fair Prices for Cotton and Soybean!”, opposition MLAs accused the government of making announcements without delivering meaningful relief.

They also pointed to rising cases of farmer suicides to argue that the administration lacks seriousness in addressing agrarian distress.

The opposition claimed the government’s lack of urgency became evident when the Union Agriculture Minister recently stated that the Centre had not yet received any proposal for aid for rain- and flood-hit farmers from the state.

The state government later clarified that it had submitted the proposal on November 27.

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