1300 CCTV cameras, security personnel yet thieves strike RIMS ICU, patients suffer in heat

The theft of air-conditioner copper pipes from the neurosurgery ICU and the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has raised serious questions over security at the state-run hospital, with several AC units rendered non-functional and patients struggling amid heat and humidity.

According to information available, thieves allegedly cut and removed copper pipes connected to air-conditioners installed in the C-1 and D-1 wards of the neurosurgery ICU on Wednesday night. The AC units stopped functioning after the pipes were removed.

A similar theft was reported from the C-2 unit of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, where the affected area includes the labour room and chambers used by women doctors.

The breakdown of the air-conditioning system has added to the difficulties faced by patients and their attendants, particularly in the neurosurgery ICU where many patients are in critical condition and maintaining a controlled temperature is important.

A patient's family member said the rise in heat inside the ward had made breathing more difficult for the patient and that their condition appeared to have worsened.

The head of the neurosurgery department has also stressed the need to restore the AC system at the earliest, saying the rising temperature could affect patients and that any delay in repairs could further increase their discomfort.

The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department has similarly sought immediate restoration of the air-conditioning system. Temperature control in the labour room is particularly important for women undergoing delivery as well as newborns, making the failure of the AC system more than a routine maintenance issue.

The stolen copper pipes from the two departments are estimated to be worth around Rs 5 lakh, although the exact value of the loss is yet to be officially assessed.

The incident has also brought the hospital's security arrangements under scrutiny. Security personnel, including home guards and SAP personnel, are deployed across the RIMS campus, while more than 1,300 CCTV cameras are reportedly installed on the premises.

Despite the extensive surveillance infrastructure, thieves managed to enter sensitive hospital areas, cut the AC pipes and leave with them, raising questions about night-time monitoring and the effectiveness of the existing security system.

The incident has also prompted questions over whether the CCTV cameras captured the theft and whether the footage can help identify those involved.

For now, patients and their attendants are waiting for the damaged AC systems to be repaired, while the incident has put the spotlight on the need for stronger surveillance and security measures in sensitive areas of the hospital.