Jamshedpur: Tragedy struck as two people died and one in critical condition following the collapse of a roof section at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital, the largest government healthcare facility in the Kolhan region. The collapse occurred on Saturday and left the entire hospital administration and health department under scrutiny.
According to initial reports, the accident took place in one of the older sections of the hospital, which was undergoing maintenance work. At the time of the collapse, several workers and patients were present in the vicinity. As the roof gave way, panic spread through the hospital premises. Passersby, hospital staff, and security personnel rushed to help, even before official rescue teams arrived.
Soon after the mishap, a joint rescue operation was launched by the Jharkhand Government’s Fire Department and Tata Steel’s Fire Services. The teams worked tirelessly through the debris to rescue those trapped under the rubble. As of now, officials have confirmed that all trapped individuals have been evacuated. However, a final search operation is still underway to ensure no one is left behind.
Among the injured, four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment in the emergency ward of the same hospital. The third critically injured person, whose identity is yet to be officially released, has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is under constant observation.
No official statement has yet been released by the East Singhbhum district administration or the hospital authorities. However, sources inside the hospital indicate that the collapsed section had been flagged for structural weaknesses in past internal audits.
The situation drew immediate response from top administrative and political figures. SDO Shatabdi Majumdar rushed to the scene and began personally overseeing rescue efforts and the clearing of the collapsed structure.
The collapse, which affected the upper two floors of the hospital’s four-storey medicine ward, created panic throughout the premises. Patients from the gynecology ward on the second floor, many of them mothers with newborns, were shifted outside the hospital building under the open sky due to safety concerns.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about the deteriorating infrastructure and safety standards at MGM Hospital. Both Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy and Jamshedpur East MLA Poornima Das arrived at the hospital soon after the incident to assess the situation and demand accountability from hospital authorities.
Speaking to the media, MLA Saryu Roy expressed shock and concern over the negligence, while MLA Poornima Das called for an immediate audit of the structural integrity of all hospital wards.
The incident also sparked a political firestorm. Former MLA and JMM leader Kunal Sarangi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to hold the hospital administration and the Health Department accountable. In a post directed at Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari, he wrote: “Minister @IrfanAnsariMLA ji, this is unfortunate and the height of indifference of the hospital administration. If that part was already weak, then why was the patient kept there? Strict action should be taken against the senior officials, not by making some small employees scapegoats and whitewashing them.”
Sarangi’s remarks reflect the growing frustration over the recurring safety lapses at MGM Hospital, which has previously faced criticism for mismanagement, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of emergency preparedness.
Probe ordered into the mishap
Jamshedpur: Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari wrote on X, “ Information has been received regarding structural damage to the old B Block building of MGM Hospital, Jamshedpur. Following this, the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum has been directed to initiate immediate relief and rescue operations. The district administration is actively conducting rescue efforts, and the situation is being closely monitored. A detailed review of the incident and necessary safety measures will be undertaken shortly,”.
Health Minister leaves for Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur: Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari, upon receiving news of the tragedy, immediately left for Jamshedpur. He is expected to visit the site and interact with hospital officials, injured patients, and rescue personnel to take stock of the situation. His arrival is anticipated later this evening.
CM directs for probe
Ranchi, May 3: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took cognizance of the incident of balcony falling in MGM Hospital and gave instructions for investigation and relief work
The balcony of B Block of MGM, the largest government hospital in Jamshedpur, suddenly collapsed on Saturday.
Sharing the information through social media, he said, “On the news of the collapse of part of an old dilapidated building of MGM Hospital in Jamshedpur, the district administration has been instructed for relief and rescue work.”
