Patients break out of psychiatric facility in Karachi

Police catch a dozen patients while several remain on the loose

KARACHI:

Under-treatment psychiatric patients, some with violent disorders, broke out of a private mental health facility in North Nazimabad, Karachi, leaving residents gripped with fear and panic.

The patients reportedly broke out due to the negligence of the hospital administration, after they were dogged by abusive staff members to revolt and escape the hospital.

Police said they were trying to catch all of the patients but were able to bring back only 12 by Friday afternoon.

Read Self-medication for mental health can be disastrous: expert

Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan police station SHO Inspector Ghulam Nabi Afridi said that the police responded quickly to the report of the escape.

As many as 20 patients were initially reported missing. "Police rushed to the scene and captured a dozen of them [patients] and handed them over to the hospital's administration," the SHO said.

The patients reportedly also destroyed a jeep parked next to the hospital as they escaped.

Nonetheless, the police said that the hospital management has not lodged any complaint on the matter.