Rayagada Hospital starts services with treatment to Hirakhand Express mishap victims

Rayagada: The newly built district headquarter hospital, it appeared, was inaugurated only to provide help to the mishap victims.

The hospital was opened just about two months back on November 15.
“However, we could start the operation of the facility so far as the fire and electrical safety permissions are still awaited. Today we opened the hospital premise and started giving treatment,” said additional district medical officer, Rayagada, Dr Siva Prasad.

“We heard about the mishap and decided to open the new building, considering that the old building would not be ideal to provide fast and smooth service," he said.

The hospital, being one of the big ones on which thousands of people from surrounding areas depend, lacks an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “We did not have ICU in the old building, but have given a proposal for having one in the new premises. I hope the government sanctions it," the doctor added.

Local people said if the hospital has ICU facilities, precious lives could have been saved. Many people in the area are dying as they don’t get timely treatment in the absence of an ICU, they said.

Compensation is very low, say locals

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announ-ced '2 lakh as compensation for the kin of the deceased in the Hirakh-and express train derailment mishap at Kuneru area under Komarada mandal in Vizianagar-am district on Saturday night.

Mr Prabhu landed in a helicopter at Kuneru ar-ea and inspected the accident spot along with Vizag MP Kambhampati Haribabu and a few others on Sunday evening. The Railway minister also announced Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for injured.

However, the people who thronged the accident spot have alleged that poor track maintenance and lack of proper fittings have causes fracture on the track and led to the mishap. It is very sad the Railways has announced low compensation to the kin of the deceased, they added.