No one died in stampede at MMCH: Divisional Commissioner

Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar has said that no one died in a stampede during a fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH).

He made the statement after a meeting involving the divisional and district administrations and hospital authorities at the hospital’s administrative building around 12:45am on Tuesday.

The commissioner said several people were injured while rushing downstairs during the fire, but there was no evidence of anyone dying in a stampede.

He said the information had been verified by checking the hospital register and speaking to the doctors, staff and Fire Service personnel concerned.

“The doctors will be able to explain in detail in their reports the causes of death of the five people who are being reported as having died,” he said.

A probe committee will be formed to investigate the incident, he said, adding that action would be taken if any irregularities or negligence were found.

MMCH Assistant Director Moin Uddin said two people, Ramjan Ali and Kulsum Begum, died of natural causes during the fire

The fire broke out around 5:45pm on Monday at a faulty lift in the hospital’s new building. Four Fire Service units brought the blaze under control after nearly an hour.

As news of the fire spread, patients, relatives, doctors, nurses and staff rushed downstairs, leaving several people injured.

Hospital Store Officer Dr Jhontu Sarkar said, “The lift has been out of order for a long time. The cause of the fire could not immediately be confirmed, while hospital Ansar and police personnel suspected that it might have started from a cigarette butt or an electrical short circuit.”