Getting best treatment at PGI, but shifting due to limited beds: Victim

Chandigarh

Though deputy commissioner (DC) Ajit Balaji Joshi announced monetary relief to the injured and the family members of those killed following a liquor shop collapsed in Sector 26 on Monday, one of the survivors claimed he was struggling hard to get a bed at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

Balwinder Singh, among the four survivors admitted at the hospital, stated despite various requests, he was not allotted bed and had to rest on a stretcher in spite of several physical injuries.

Meanwhile, appreciating the doctors’ efforts, Balwinder said though he was really satisfied with the doctors who treated him, he was planning to shift to some other hospital as he was not provided a separate bed.

“Due to no provision of a bed, my body is under severe strain so I have decided to shift to some other hospital. The doctors advised me to do leg exercise, which is not possible on a stretcher. But doctors are wonderful here. They are providing me the best possible treatment but the shortage of beds is a major concern,” told Balwinder.

When apprised about the condition of the victim, the DC said he would request the medical superintendent to provide all the necessary things to the patients.

“Though it’s the PGI administration’s job to take care of the victims — and they are doing it efficiently — I will check with the medical superintendent to provide the best treatment to him as we don’t want anyone to suffer.”

However, the PGI officials said beds are provided to only those whose condition is critical. Moreover, many patients are also treated on stretchers, they confirmed.

Taking a long pause while sharing the incident, Balwinder said, “Paji… Hale tak hanera hai, samjh hi nahi andi ki hoya ki si (Brother, it’s all dark in my mind… yet to realise what and how it all happened).”

One of the survivors who had a lucky escape at the liquor shop which collapsed near the transport area in Sector 26, Chandigarh, on Monday, Balwinder had suffered multiple injuries, mainly in his legs.

Balwinder, an engineer with a private firm in SAS Nagar, was safely rescued by the public. “I can’t talk about the incident but I am thankful to the almighty that I survived. I can still feel the goose bumps as I try recalling the incident,” said Singh.

His wife was away from the city at her parents’ house. Her world almost crashed when she got to know about the incident through the hospital authorities.

“I was stunned, and I rushed to the hospital as I came to know about the incident. I couldn’t believe since when I left, he was in a healthy state, and suddenly he was in terrible pain,” said Balwinder’s wife.

ONE OF THE VICTIM DISCHARGED

According to doctors at the PGIMER, one of the victims, Prem Pal, was discharged on Tuesday. He had suffered multiple injuries, including injury on his forehead. Meanwhile, an unidentified victim was still in the intensive care unit.

Total 11 persons were injured and six were buried alive under the debris when the liquor vend collapsed on Monday.

Among those injured, four were admitted to the PGI , while one of them was discharged immediately after first aid.

Earlier on Tuesday, the police sealed the area to investigate the matter. A large numbers of commuters were seen eagerly halting at the spot to know what was happening at the spot.

HE WAS ABOUT TO ENTER SHOP WHEN TRAGEDY STRUCK

Pawan, 25, was about to enter the shop when the building collapsed. He suffered multiple injuries, including abdomen and facial scars, after he was struck by a part of the debris at the entrance..

Pawan was among the four victims admitted to the PGI on Monday. Hailing from Jammu, Pawan had come to the city six months ago and works as a vegetable seller at the Sector 26 Grain Market. Talking to HT, Sham Lal, his uncle, who came all the way from Jammu after hearing about the tragedy said, “Pawan has received some serious injuries, including on his face. Doctors told the collapse caused a serious damage to one of his abdominal organs, probably the urinary bladder.”

Taking about how he came to know about the incident, Lal said a call from the hospital suddenly created a panic among all the family members in Jammu. “It was really difficult to handle his mother. We managed to talk to him in the morning for a brief period when he narrated the incident.”

Now, the doctors have asked not to give him water for at least a day as he has been administered glucose, he added.