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The Tamil Nadu government has ordered closure of at least 16 homes for mentally challenged people located in and around Erwadi town after the August six fire, which charred to death 28 inmates who chained to their beds or poles.
The government, in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, which had taken a suo-motu notice of the incident, said it had ordered that all private mental asylums located in thatched sheds in any part of the state would be closed immediately.
The affidavit also said out of a total of 25 district headquarter hospitals, only 11 had psychiatrists among the staff. "Hence it was decided by the chief minister that psychiatrists would be posted in the remaining 14 districts immediately," it said.
Elaborating on the steps taken by it as a follow-up to the ghastly incident, the state government also directed that all inmates should be unchained immediately and those with violent tendencies admitted to government asylums.
PTI
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