Kozhikode :
The tragic death of four patients evacuated from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital following a fire on Friday night has sparked serious concerns, with relatives alleging negligence during emergency medical evacuation. Preliminary postmortem reports ruled out death due to smoke inhalation, attributing the causes to cardiac arrest and poisoning in one case.
Allegations Over Ventilator Removal Amid Panic
Family members, including Yusuf Ali, whose sister Naseera died during evacuation, claimed her condition had improved and that she died after being removed from the ventilator. Health Minister Veena George, who visited the site, announced the appointment of an external medical team to investigate the claims.
Explosion Traced to UPS Room, Smoke Causes Mass Evacuation
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. near the MRI unit when a suspected short circuit in the UPS room triggered a fire and thick smoke. At least 38 batteries were destroyed, and the Fire and Rescue Services reported repeated power outages before the blast. Forensic and PWD teams are now jointly investigating the technical cause.
Large-Scale Rescue Effort Saves Over 200 Lives
In a major rescue operation, over 200 individuals were safely evacuated. Among the 151 patients in the emergency block, 114 remain under treatment, while 37 were shifted to various hospitals, including Baby Memorial, Aster MIMS, and others.
Autopsy Results and Ongoing Investigations
Autopsies revealed cardiac arrest as the cause of death for three individuals, while preliminary findings in Naseera’s case pointed to poisoning. Further examination of internal organs is pending. One victim, a migrant worker, was declared brought dead due to hanging, and another passed away prior to the fire due to cardiac arrest.
Protocol Under Scrutiny, Financial Burden on Families
Minister Veena George emphasized the need to develop standardized evacuation protocols for critical patients during emergencies. Families of the transferred patients expressed concern over mounting medical bills in private hospitals—reportedly up to ₹1 lakh per day—prompting the government to consider financial assistance.
