BENGALURU: A Vijinapura family lost three members within just 10 days, in a heartbreaking chain of events that began with a hospital dash over suspected coronavirus infection. Two died of a heart attack, while the third was confirmed to have Covid-19.
On July 13, 46-year-old Afroz Bi complained of breathlessness, a symptom associated with Covid-19, and her 55-year-old husband, Syed Sartaz, immediately got her admitted to Manipal Hospital in Whitefield. He suffered a heart attack while driving back home, according to friends and relatives. The couple’s son, Syed Imran, rushed him to a hospital, where Sartaz was declared brought dead.
On July 15, Imran suffered a heart attack and died. Afroz Bi, who was in the intensive care unit, passed away on July 23, hours after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
Relatives alleged that the hospital refused to hand over the body to her surviving children, two sons and daughters, and demanded that they first clear the bill of Rs 9 lakh. The body was released on Friday after some activists from KR Puram intervened.
“The hospital insisted that the family pay Rs 9 lakh. We staged a protest in front of the hospital and eventually, it relented,” claimed social worker Sultan Mirza.
Hospital rejects claims
Manipal Hospital denied it delayed handing over the body over payment issues. “The necessary billing was maintained in line with the agreed government charges for Covid positive patients. Due to the unforeseen tragedy in the family, we waived off the unpaid amount on humanitarian grounds and after all necessary clearances, handed over the body to the family through authorities concerned as per protocol. There was no delay from our end,” said Arnab Mondal, director of Manipal, Whitefield.
Sartaz ran a small business in Vijinapura and had been helping out people during the pandemic. “While Afroz Bi was infected with coronavirus and died after multiple organ failure, we don’t know if Sartaz and Imran were also infected and whether the virus contributed to their death,” Mirza said.
On July 13, 46-year-old Afroz Bi complained of breathlessness, a symptom associated with Covid-19, and her 55-year-old husband, Syed Sartaz, immediately got her admitted to Manipal Hospital in Whitefield. He suffered a heart attack while driving back home, according to friends and relatives. The couple’s son, Syed Imran, rushed him to a hospital, where Sartaz was declared brought dead.
On July 15, Imran suffered a heart attack and died. Afroz Bi, who was in the intensive care unit, passed away on July 23, hours after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
Relatives alleged that the hospital refused to hand over the body to her surviving children, two sons and daughters, and demanded that they first clear the bill of Rs 9 lakh. The body was released on Friday after some activists from KR Puram intervened.
“The hospital insisted that the family pay Rs 9 lakh. We staged a protest in front of the hospital and eventually, it relented,” claimed social worker Sultan Mirza.
Hospital rejects claims
Manipal Hospital denied it delayed handing over the body over payment issues. “The necessary billing was maintained in line with the agreed government charges for Covid positive patients. Due to the unforeseen tragedy in the family, we waived off the unpaid amount on humanitarian grounds and after all necessary clearances, handed over the body to the family through authorities concerned as per protocol. There was no delay from our end,” said Arnab Mondal, director of Manipal, Whitefield.
Sartaz ran a small business in Vijinapura and had been helping out people during the pandemic. “While Afroz Bi was infected with coronavirus and died after multiple organ failure, we don’t know if Sartaz and Imran were also infected and whether the virus contributed to their death,” Mirza said.
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