Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar and DIG of Mymensingh Range Mohammad Zahidul Hasan have stated that no concrete evidence has been immediately found regarding the rumors of deaths following the fire incident at the new building of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
A terrifying fire broke out on Monday evening in the new eight-story building of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Later at around 10:45 PM, addressing journalists, Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar informed that no specific evidence has been found so far to support the claim that anyone died due to a stampede or the fire at the hospital.
Responding to a question regarding news media broadcasting the death of six people, the Divisional Commissioner stated that any information needs to be 100% verified prior to publication; otherwise, inconsistent information creates extremely embarrassing situations. He further added that the hospital’s emergency department, morgue, and other registries are being closely scrutinized to cross-reference all information, and the actual situation will be officially announced only after final confirmation.
Regarding the same matter around 11:00 PM, DIG of Mymensingh Range Mohammad Zahidul Hasan stated that police are attempting to contact the relatives on the lists of deceased circulating on social media or in rumors, but no specific proof supporting the deaths has yet been found. Police and the administration concerned are jointly conducting an on-site investigation to verify the authenticity of the received information.
According to Fire Service data, after receiving news of the fire at 5:55 PM, 10 of their units reached the scene within 10 minutes to initiate operations and brought the fire completely under control by around 6:30 PM. Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, Assistant Director of Mymensingh Fire Service, stated that the fire originated from overheating caused by an electrical short circuit in the board of the building’s lift control room. Although the fire itself was minor, the generation of heavy smoke spread throughout, causing widespread panic and fear among the people.
Eyewitnesses and victims present in the building during the incident reported that out of five staircases in the new building, four were locked, leaving only one staircase open, which placed patients and their relatives in severe distress. Victim families alleged that several people were injured in the pushing and shoving while hurriedly trying to descend using the sole open staircase.
To monitor the situation, the Divisional Commissioner, Range DIG, District Commissioner Saifur Rahman, and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan sat for an emergency meeting at around 10:00 PM in the hospital’s conference room. Following the meeting at around 10:15 PM, high-ranking officials personally inspected the site of the fire accident.
