Bangalore: 22 beggars died ’naturally’ in 3 days, declares Govt

PTI

Bangalore, 20 August 2010: The Karnataka government, battling a public outcry over the death of 22 beggars in a government-run relief centre here in last three days, on Friday termed the casualties as ’’natural deaths’’. 

 
The government, however, has ordered an emergent medical report after assessing the causes behind their deaths, as two more persons admitted in hospitals with symptoms of gastroenteritis died last night.

A four-member ministerial team led by Home Minister V S Acharya rushed to Beggars Relief Centre for an on-the-spot inspection today and spoke to inmates who were found in a pathetic condition. He also held a meeting with officials.

Acharya, himself a medical doctor, said "doctors have certified all the deaths as natural. However, I have asked Commissioner for Social Welfare Department to submit a report by tomorrow on the causes that led to the death of beggars".

Talking to reporters after speaking to several inmates at the Beggars Relief Centre, Acharya announced a slew of measures, including setting up of an Expert Committee to suggest improvements at the centre, which is "overcrowded".

As against the capacity to house 900 beggars, the centre has more than 2,500, he said.
On the sudden surge in the number of deaths, Acharya said majority of the inmates were suffering from chronic diseases. Terminally-ill patients were also there.

Several of them had low levels of immunity and mortality rate was high among such people, he said.

He directed officials in charge of the centre to ensure that the inmates get good quality food and potable drinking water. He also asked them and stop the inmates from drinking polluted water as some of them were mentally challenged.

Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for Law S Suresh Kumar and Minister for Social Welfare D Sudhakara accompanied Acharya.