Asha Kiran shelter home deaths: Delhi HC orders water testing, seeks report from authorities

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a report from the authorities on the recent death of 14 inmates at the city government-run Asha Kiran shelter home for the mentally challenged, noting that nearly all the deceased suffered from tuberculosis (TB).

Questioning how TB was “rampant” in the shelter home, a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to test the quality of water as well as the condition of water and sewer pipelines. It also ordered the social welfare department secretary to visit the premises on August 6. Both the DJB and social welfare department secretary were asked to file their reports to the court.

The court said the large number of deaths cannot be a co-incidence and curative measures should be put in place first and foremost in the shelter home. Fourteen people, including a child, died at the shelter home in the month of July.