3 dead & several injured after building collapses in Jamshedpur hospital complex

Tragedy struck late Saturday night in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, when a section of a dilapidated building within the MGM Hospital complex collapsed, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to others. Swift rescue operations managed to pull twelve individuals alive from the debris, but the incident has cast a sharp spotlight on the condition of the hospital infrastructure.

According to police officials, initial reports indicated that around fifteen people were trapped when the structure gave way. Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and district officials, were immediately mobilized for a search and rescue operation that continued through the night. While twelve were rescued, the grim task of recovering the victims concluded with three fatalities confirmed.

Responding to the crisis on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari rushed to the site. He met with district administration officials in an emergency meeting held during the night, accompanied by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department. Minister Ansari stated that the immediate priority was supporting the affected families.

The state government announced financial compensation, promising Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased individual and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the collapse. "Our priority is to stand with the families of the deceased," Ansari said, adding, "We will take concrete steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again." He also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.

Furthermore, the Health Minister has ordered a high-level investigation into the circumstances leading to the collapse. He assured the public that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence, promising outcomes within a week. "NDRF and district officials are carrying out rescue operations. A high-level investigation has been ordered," Ansari confirmed.

However, the incident quickly drew sharp criticism from the opposition. BJP leader Pratul Shah Deo vehemently condemned the state government, labelling the deaths not as an accident but as "deliberate killings of the poor by the system." He questioned why patients were still being treated in a building acknowledged by the Chief Minister himself as dilapidated, demanding answers as to why crucial repairs were not undertaken earlier.