Bangalore bandh: Govt hospital doctors have a relaxed day

BANGALORE: On a normal day, the government hospital is a strict-no-no, but on Thursday, it was different. When Preethi M,10, developed high fever and nausea, her grandmother Selviamma rushed her to a private clinic on Tannery Road. With skeletal staff on duty, the clinic told her that test reports would be out only on Friday.
Selviamma then rushed her to Bowring Hospital where she was treated, though reaching the hospital was not easy.Thankfully, a neighbourhood auto rickshaw driver helped them reach the government hospital, where the outpatient department bore a deserted look, with only about 30% of patients turning up. "On a normal day, there are over 1,000 patients in the OPD. Today, there are only about 300 patients. No buses, no patients," said a duty doctor at Bowring Hospital.
MALLRATS STAY AWAY
Malls were closed till 6pm, and though a few shops inside were open, the crowd was missing as people preferred to stay home. Some multiplexes also cancelled the afternoon show. "We were to catch a 4.15pm show, but it was cancelled and the next show is only at 9.30. Despite advertising timings in the media, the film is not being screened," said Marisha Prabhu, a banker who visited Sigma Mall on Cunningham Road.
Fearing violence, some malls decided to keep only side entrances open. At Bangalore Central, the main entrance was closed, though people were allowed to enter from the basement.