HYDERABAD: At least 70 psychiatric inpatients at the Government Hospital for Mental Care, also known as the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), at Erragadda were recently treated for gastrointestinal distress, or food poisoning as it is commonly known, even as a 30-year-old inmate, Maran, died of suspected cardiac arrest on Tuesday.
While an official statement insisted that 35 inpatients reported food-related gastrointestinal distress, sources said that the number of patients was over 70.
Two shifted to OGH
Sources said that two of these 70 inpatients were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital for further treatment.
“All patients were examined and put on symptomatic and supportive treatment. Hydration, electrolyte replacement and antibiotics were administered as required. All are currently stable and under observation,” the statement read.
Food and water samples have been sent for microbiological testing, and hygienic measures have been reinforced in the hospital.
When contacted, IMH superintendent Dr Anitha Rayirala was unavailable for comment. TNIE could not verify whether families of affected patients had been informed.
Case booked at Borabanda PS
According to Borabanda police officials, Maran, a destitute referred by the Bhupalpally court in August 2023, was diagnosed with intellectual disability and behavioural impairment.
Though declared fit for discharge in November 2023, he remained in the hospital as no family or police came to take him back. He was being treated in the Psychiatric DC ward of the Institute of Mental Health.
Discovered dead in morning
At 5.30 am on Tuesday, he was found unresponsive. Doctors later declared him dead due to cardiopulmonary arrest, the police added.
“Based on clinical signs, the patient may have developed bronchopneumonia, which might have led to the cardiac event. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after postmortem,” the hospital said.
Meanwhile, Borabanda police registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in connection with the death.