Elderly patient died after fall from third floor of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa
A 70-year-old patient admitted a day earlier died after falling or jumping from the third floor of Rewa’s Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital on Saturday. Police investigated; it was unclear whether it was an accident or suicide.
A major incident occurred on Saturday at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the largest government hospital in the Rewa division. An elderly patient died after falling or jumping from the hospital’s third floor. The incident, a day after his admission, exposed serious flaws in the hospital’s security arrangements and management.
Admitted on Friday, incident on Saturday
The deceased was identified as Krishna Kumar Gupta (70), son of Shridhar Gupta, a resident of Baikunthpur in Rewa district. According to his family, he had been ill for a long time and was being treated at home. When his condition worsened, he was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital on Friday. On Saturday morning he was admitted on the third floor of A-Block. During this time he stepped out on the pretext of going to the bathroom and suddenly fell over the railing. It did not become clear whether it was merely an accident or a case of suicide.
Seriously injured, he was given immediate treatment, but died a short while later.
Doctor informed police
Hospital superintendent Dr Yatnesh Tripathi confirmed the incident. He said the patient was admitted on the third floor. The information was first given by the guard present there. After that, he said, he immediately informed the police and briefed the media on the matter.
Hospital repeatedly under scrutiny
This incident was not new. There had been earlier incidents of patients jumping or falling at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. Iron railings had been installed on the upper floors at a cost of lakhs of rupees, but despite these safety measures such incidents had not been stopped.
The hospital often made headlines for filth, mismanagement, negligence in treatment and irresponsibility of staff. Incidents such as suicide and falls had now raised serious questions about the hospital’s image.
Police investigated
On receiving information, police reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. The incident was under investigation at that time.
