The civic administration apparently showed unusual alacrity in demolishing the BKC jumbo Covid centre to facilitate a Dussehra rally, a purely political event. While the dismantling of the 2,428-bed facility that also had a vaccination centre began in August, the abrupt demolition of the entire external structure on the second day of this month surprised the staff. Health experts said it won’t be easy to erect a similar facility in a short time.

The facility at BKC jabbed over 5 lakh citizens between January 16, 2021, and September 30, 2022. Amid the raging Covid pandemic, it had treated over 29,000 patients. Highly placed sources, who did not wish to be identified, said, “Over 2,200 cots and beds, 200-plus bedside monitors, 200 ventilators, 100-plus BiPAP machines, etc., and large quantities of medical consumables were hurriedly shifted from the BKC centre, after it was decided to shut down the centre permanently, since July end.”