By Tasneem Bandukwala
Over the past two weeks, at the Regional Mental Hospital (RMH), Yerwada, Pune, four patients went missing, which provoked quick retributive action. Six employees have been placed under suspension, and four more individuals, among them two senior physicians on night shift, have been served show-cause notices. Authorities have mentioned that a proposal has been forwarded to the deputy director of health services, requesting administrative sanction for the suspensions.
Hospital records indicate that the initial incident took place on July 29, involving a 37-year-old man from Nanded who disappeared from the male informatory ward. Only a few days afterward, on August 1, three additional patients aged 35, 40, and 45, residents of the Solapur district from a different ward, were also declared missing. The three had recently been admitted for alcohol use disorder.
Authorities placed under suspension two male attendants from the ward where the three patients went missing, two attendants from the male informatory ward, and two hawaldars, all of whom were on night duty at the time. Two senior doctors and two ward assistants—who are brothers—responsible for overseeing the night shift were also issued warnings.
The Yerwada police have registered a complaint regarding a missing person and are conducting a parallel investigation. According to sources, initial findings suggest lapses in monitoring, insufficient night staffing, and potential negligence in adhering to security protocols. The disappearance of patients from different wards within a short timeframe has raised significant concerns regarding surveillance measures and the safety of both patients and the surrounding community.
RMH medical superintendent, Dr Shrinivas Kolod, stated that the four staff members issued show-cause notices must submit their responses within seven days. He added that while the three residents from Solapur have returned home, there is still no update on the whereabouts of the patient from Nanded.
Additionally, Dr. Nagnath Yempalle, deputy director of health services from the Pune Region, said they had received the suspension proposal, emphasizing that such lapses in a sensitive government facility are intolerable and will be met with strict action.
This isn’t the first time RMH has faced disciplinary issues this year. On March 20, two cooks were suspended after they were found to be intoxicated while on duty — a serious breach that endangered food safety and put patients at risk. Authorities noted that the latest disciplinary measures are being implemented following the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979.