Patna: Thieves allegedly broke into the Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital premises in Patna late on August 28 and stole equipment and copper wiring worth lakhs of rupees.
According to the hospital management, the thieves scaled the boundary wall to enter the complex and removed copper wiring from air-conditioning units, motors, a mud pump and other equipment.
The thieves also cut cables connected to the MRI machine, disrupting scanning services for several hours on Saturday.
MRI Machine Malfunction Reveals Theft
The theft came to light after the MRI machine malfunctioned when staff switched it on Saturday morning.
Hospital staff inspected the machine and its associated wiring before discovering that cables had been severed. The hospital management subsequently informed the police.
The management said copper wiring installed outside the MRI lab was among the items stolen. The total value of the stolen and damaged equipment is estimated to be in lakhs.
MRI Services Disrupted
MRI services remained affected until Saturday afternoon as the hospital worked to repair the damaged wiring and replace the stolen equipment.
The disruption affected patients who had arrived at the hospital for scans and their accompanying family members.
Security Arrangements Under Scrutiny
The incident has raised questions over security arrangements in the outer sections of the hospital complex.
Hospital sources said adequate security guards are not deployed at night in several secluded areas. Most guards are stationed inside the hospital or near the main emergency entrance, leaving some peripheral areas with limited surveillance.
Police are expected to investigate how the thieves entered the premises and identify those involved in the theft.
CCTV Footage To Be Examined
The functioning of CCTV cameras in the area where the thieves allegedly entered is also under investigation.
Police may examine available CCTV footage and other evidence from the hospital premises to establish the sequence of events and identify the suspects.
BMSICL Responsible For New Building’s Security
Hospital director Dr Rakesh Chaudhary said the new building is currently under the jurisdiction of the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL), and its security responsibility rests with the agency.
The six-storey super-specialty building was inaugurated by the chief minister about a month ago. It was constructed at a cost of Rs 225 crore.
Services have so far started on two floors of the building. Once fully operational, the facility is planned as a major orthopaedic super-specialty centre.
