NRI dies at airport due to ‘medical negligence’

Aarti Trupathi, a co-traveller, alleges that despite informing the airport authorities, no emergency service arrived for 20 mins, reports Soubhik Mitra.

Canada resident Jagjivan Girdharilal had come to Mumbai for his wife’s treatment. But minutes after stepping out of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH-194 on Wednesday night, he died, reportedly of medical negligence. The 69-year-old fell on his face and fainted while collecting luggage around 11 pm.

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Aarti Trupathi, a co-traveller, alleged that despite informing the airport management, no emergency service arrived for 20 minutes. “Despite screaming around, medical authorities did not turn up for over 20 minutes,” said 34-year-old Tripathi, who runs a garment business in Mumbai.

She said the airport doctor arrived drunk. “He was reeking and could not even stand properly. We asked airport officials to test the doctor for alcohol but they refused,” she said.

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the private consortia modernising the Mumbai airport, denied the allegations. The spokesperson said the doctor had reached the spot within seven minutes of getting a call.

Girdharilal died before the ambulance could leave the airport.