DLSA team assures all possible legal and logistical support to MGM hospital Jamshedpur victims

Jamshedpur: In the wake of the tragic balcony collapse at MGM Medical College and Hospital that claimed three lives and left others injured, a high-level team from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) visited MGM and Tata Main Hospital (TMH) on Sunday morning to meet with the victims’ families and ensure necessary support is extended.

The visit was made under the guidance of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa) Executive President  Sujit Narayan Prasad, and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jamshedpur. The DALSA delegation was led by  Bimalesh Kumar Sahai, Principal District and Sessions Judge (In-charge), accompanied by Chief Judicial Magistrate Vishal Gaurav, DALSA Secretary Abhishek Prasad, and In-charge Judge Siddhant Tigga, along with other court officials and para-legal volunteers (PLVs).

The team visited the accident site at MGM’s Medicine Ward, where the balcony collapsed from the third floor to the ground floor around 3:20 PM on May 3. According to MGM authorities, three patients — Lucas Simon Tirkey (61), David Johnson (70), and Shrichand Tanti (50) — died in the incident. Sunil Kumar (48) and Renuka Devi (72) were critically injured; Renuka was referred to TMH due to her fragile condition.

During the hospital visit, the DALSA team interacted with Sunil Kumar, who recounted the horrific incident and confirmed that he is receiving appropriate medical care. The team then proceeded to TMH, where Renuka Devi remains under treatment in the Critical Care Unit. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Efforts were made to trace and inform the families of the victims. With the help of PLVs Nagendra Kumar and Dilip Jaiswal, the relatives of the deceased from Jamshedpur were located and updated on the proceedings. For victims from Seraikela-Kharsawan, coordination was established with DALSA Seraikela’s Secretary and PLVs Mukesh Kumar Mishra and Faguram Mahato, ensuring that those affected are not left uninformed or unsupported.

Addressing the media at the site, Judge Bimalesh Kumar Sahai assured, “All possible help will be provided to the families of the deceased and the injured through the judicial process. Our efforts are not only to provide legal aid but also to ensure dignified last rites and continued support for the injured.”

MGM Hospital Superintendent Dr. R.K. Mandhan and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Nakul Chaudhary explained the sequence of the incident. According to them, overcrowding in the corridor/veranda adjacent to the ward room, used frequently by patients and their visitors, likely contributed to the structural failure. At the time of the collapse, five individuals were present in the area; three were crushed under the debris, while two were rescued — one with minor injuries and one in critical condition.

They also mentioned that oxygen pipelines were damaged in the collapse, posing further health risks. Prompt action was taken to stabilize Renuka Devi before transferring her to TMH.