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Delhi Hospitals: Tents Replace Open-Air Shelters for Patients
18 Jan
Summary
- Temporary tents erected near AIIMS and RML hospitals for patient accommodation.
- Delhi High Court ordered DUSIB to provide immediate shelter arrangements.
- Winter temperatures in Delhi dropped to 2.9°C, the lowest in a year.
Temporary tents have been erected near major Delhi hospitals, including AIIMS Trauma Centre and RML Hospital, to provide shelter for patients and their attendants. This action was prompted by the Delhi High Court's intervention after reports emerged of individuals sleeping in the open due to packed night shelters. The court mandated the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to immediately convert subway areas around hospitals into temporary shelters with beds.
The initiative addresses the harsh winter conditions in Delhi, where temperatures recently plummeted to 2.9°C. The High Court has also impleaded four central government hospitals—AIIMS, VMCC & Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Hospital, and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital—as parties to the case, alongside civic authorities. A meeting on January 15th resulted in a short-term plan to erect temporary structures.
Near AIIMS, nine tents with foam flooring have been set up, accommodating individuals who previously slept in subways or open spaces. Similarly, at RML Hospital, tents are being installed, though some areas still show families making do with limited spaces. The objective is to ensure that vulnerable patients and their families have a safe and warm place to stay while undergoing medical treatment.
