On Tuesday night at Sassoon General Hospital, security guards found a serious problem. Out of 22 CCTV cameras, 14 weren't working for about three days. This made it very easy for someone to sneak out. The issue came to light after a 32-year-old man named Rajesh Kumar, who was accused of sexual harassment, escaped from the hospital while he was supposed to be under police watch.
Rajesh had been taken to the hospital for treatment after his arrest on November 15th. It's alarming that he managed to leave between 2:15 AM and 2:45 AM, a time when security checks are usually more careful. The broken cameras were in important places like the emergency room and the main entrance, which helped him escape without being seen.
The hospital leaders are now investigating what happened. They found out that the contract with the security company hadn't been renewed since September. This meant there were fewer guards at night, only 12 instead of the needed 20, making the hospital less safe.
In response to this escape, the hospital board decided to spend ₹4.2 million to improve security. They'll add 35 new cameras, put in special access controls at 12 doors, and install emergency buttons in all wards within the next month.
Local police have started a team of 15 officers to find Rajesh. They're also looking into whether any hospital staff helped him escape. So far, three staff members have been suspended because their work hours look suspicious around the time of his escape.
The Maharashtra State Health Department has made new rules for all public hospitals to keep patients safe. They must check their security every three months and make sure cameras work 98% of the time. Hospitals have until January 15th, 2024, to follow these new safety rules or face penalties.
