Here are the details of the tragic incident where 6 people, including a child, died after being trampled while rushing down the stairs in extreme panic following a sudden fire outbreak at the new eight-story building of Mymensingh Medical College (MMC) Hospital.
Around 6:00 PM on Monday, September 14, a sudden fire broke out on the upper floors of the new eight-story building at Mymensingh Medical College (MMC) Hospital. Smoke from the fire, which originated in the lift control room on the 8th floor, rapidly spread throughout various wards of the building, causing severe fear and panic among the patients and their relatives inside.
As soon as the fire broke out, hundreds of patients and relatives frantically tried to descend simultaneously via the narrow staircase to save their lives. During the intense rush and pushing, several people slipped and fell on the stairs. A total of 6 people, including an unidentified child, tragically lost their lives on the spot after being trampled and crushed under the crowd descending the stairs.
Relevant authorities have confirmed the identities of 5 of the deceased in this tragic accident. The deceased are Hajera Begum (50), Shahjahan (40), Ramjan (38), Jahanara (50), and Kulsuma (35). The identity and exact age of the deceased child could not be immediately determined.
Upon receiving news of the incident, a total of 10 Fire Service units from 5 stations in Mymensingh quickly arrived at the hospital and launched rescue operations. Thanks to the prompt action of the skilled fire personnel, the fire was brought under control, and the additional units were later withdrawn. However, 4 units have been kept on standby at the scene to monitor any emergency situation.
Regarding the primary cause of the fire, Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, Assistant Director of Mymensingh Fire Service, stated that the initial fire likely originated from an electrical short circuit and overheating in the board connected to the machine in the lift control room of the new building. Although the extent of the fire was not very large, the heavy smoke from the control room spread throughout the entire building, causing people to panic and leading to this tragic accident.
Regarding the overall situation at the hospital, Deputy Director Jakiul Islam confirmed that no medical care wards suffered direct damage from the fire. A necessary investigation process has been initiated to thoroughly examine whether there were internal electrical faults or to determine the precise cause of the fire.
