Amitabh Bachchan, Anand Pandit help Juhu COVID centre begin operations

Amitabh Bachchan and producer Anand Pandit have come together to help the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) set up an emergency 25-bed COVID centre in Juhu.

The centre, set up at Juhu's Ritambhara Vishwa Vidyapeeth, became operational today.

Pandit said, "A 25-bed oxygen facility has been set up at the Ritambhara Vishva Vidyapeeth in Juhu. After a trial run, the centre was up and running by 10am on 18 May. Mr Bachchan has donated the equipment and infrastructure for the facility and all necessary permissions have been granted by the BMC."

The facility has the following features:

• 25 semi-fowler beds
• Oxygen supply on each bed
• Medication
• Nutritious vegetarian meals
• Wheelchair facility
• Physiotherapy
• Mental health counselling
• Pathology lab (at patient's cost)
• CT scan (at patient's cost)

In his blog, Bachchan had remarked about his contribution and the details for the facility.

Pandit continued, "When Amitji heard that I was scouting for places in Juhu, he called me and said he wanted to help in every way possible. He has always supported my social initiatives wholeheartedly and also contributed his time and resources.

"I hope this centre will help bring much-needed relief and healing to those in need. We will continue to find ways to make a difference somehow during this tough time."

The Chehre producer has also joined hands with actor-producer Ajay Devgn to contribute to the BMC's efforts to set up a similar centre at Shivaji Park in Dadar, central Mumbai.

Pandit said, "It is imperative for the industry to come together at this time to help as many people as possible. We are facing an economic, humanitarian and social crisis at a scale that would have been unimaginable even last year. And those who can must do everything to change the bleak narrative around the pandemic to one that gives hope.”