Unmanageable crowd keep hospital staff busy

Authorities of Medanta-The Medicity had a harrowing time on Sunday as more than a thousand people forced their way into the multi-speciality hospital in Gurgaon. Sanjeev K Ahuja reports.

Authorities of Medanta-The Medicity had a harrowing time on Sunday as more than a thousand people forced their way into the multi-speciality hospital in Gurgaon.

The crowd started thronging the hospital as soon as they got the news that Anna Hazare was being brought to the hospital after he broke his 12-day fast at Delhi's Ramlila Ground.

Attendants of patients cried foul as the crowd shouted slogans despite repeated requests by the hospital authorities.

Dr Naresh Trehan, the chairman and managing director of the hospital, looked visibly annoyed with the situation and ordered officials to make necessary arrangements to keep the crowd away. Repeated requests by Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues also did not evoke any response from the raging and untamed crowd.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft crusader received a VVIP treatment. The local police had barricaded the access to the hospital from the Gurgaon Expressway itself - something which has never been done for any other VIP patient.

"I have been visiting this hospital for long. But Anna's presence here is different. Security officials failed to tame the crowd that entered the hospital in large numbers and shouted slogans causing inconvenience to patients," said Ashvai Kumar, an attendant of a patient.

People thronging the hospital after Hazare's arrival included social activists and local residents.