Thieves at Dehradun's government-run Doon Medical College Hospital have turned their attention from patients' belongings to the hospital's own property, ripping out bathroom taps and mirrors in a fresh act of theft that has left both patients and hospital administration stunned.
Taps Missing, Basins and Pipes Found Broken
The incident took place in the washroom of the medical college's new OPD building. When staff reached the spot, the taps were gone and the basins and pipes lay broken. The bigger puzzle is how the thieves managed to walk out of a public washroom carrying so many fittings without being noticed in the first place. This is not the first time hospital property has disappeared either; last year an AC compressor and some other items were stolen from the premises. The fresh theft has once again raised serious questions over the hospital's overall security arrangements and how easily outsiders can move around the building unchecked.
What the Hospital Administration Said
Dr. Varun Mittal, deputy medical superintendent of Doon Hospital, said some mischievous elements entered the washroom of the medical college's new OPD building and damaged government property. He said the bathroom had been vandalised, with the taps and their attached fittings missing, pointing clearly to a case of theft rather than an accident. A complaint has already been filed with the police station over the matter, and hospital officials say they want the culprits identified quickly.
Police Scanning CCTV Footage, Security to Be Tightened
According to Dr. Mittal, CCTV footage from around the OPD building is being reviewed so that strict action can be taken against whoever is responsible for the damage. He said adequate security personnel will be deployed to strengthen the hospital's overall security setup, and staff and security guards have been directed to keep a round-the-clock watch over the premises. He also appealed to patients visiting the hospital, saying the hospital belongs to everyone and no one, whether staff, patient or visitor, should damage it or any other government property in this manner. The hospital administration's investigation into the matter is currently underway.
AC Compressors Were Stolen From the Mortuary Too
Theft is not new at Doon Medical College Hospital. Patients have previously lost phones and other belongings from their bags inside the hospital premises. This time it was bathroom taps; earlier, in March 2025, thieves did not even spare the mortuary. Staff at the time noticed a foul smell coming from bodies kept in the mortuary and found that they were not staying cold as they should, and a subsequent investigation revealed that thieves had stolen 8 AC compressors along with their attached fittings from the mortuary.
Repeated Thefts Worry Patients and Their Families
Repeated theft incidents at this state capital's government hospital are adding to the worries of patients and their attendants. In the past, people addicted to substances who loiter around the hospital premises have also been caught carrying out such acts, which is why suspicion is also falling on people from the surrounding area this time. Thousands of patients travel to this hospital every day for treatment, coming not just from hill districts but from other states as well. Managing such a large daily crowd and keeping watch over every corner of the premises remains a constant challenge for the hospital administration.
