Woman dies after tree falls on her in Kolkata’s SSKM hospital

Kolkata, Aug 24 (IANS) A woman died after a tree fell on the premises of SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on Monday afternoon.

According to hospital sources, the woman was identified as Rahima Bibi, 46, who had brought a family member from Nalhati in Birbhum district for treatment in the state-run hospital.

Rahima was injured when a tree suddenly fell in front of the OPD of the Urology Department. She was immediately rushed to the trauma care unit but was declared dead there.

Two more people were injured when the tree fell. They are being treated at the hospital’s trauma care unit

The incident during the morning rush hour in the crowded government hospital spread panic.

According to hospital sources, Rahima’s relative, Aklima Bibi, who also hails from Nalhati, is admitted to the Urology Department. Rahima had come from Nalhati to take care of her.

There is a concrete bench outside the Urology Department where the patients’ relatives sit.

On Monday morning, Rahima and a few others were sitting on that bench when the tree fell suddenly on all of them.

Apart from Rahima, 68-year-old Zillar Rahman and 76-year-old Shish Mohammad Sheikh were injured in the incident. They are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The patients’ relatives complained that the administration should have paid attention to the old tree in advance, as the continuous rains have made the soil even more unstable.

“We just rest under the tree like this. No one ever thought that something like this could happen. One person died on the spot. Two others were injured. The administration of the hospital needs to pay attention to this issue and inspect other trees on its premises,” a patient’s relative said.

According to hospital sources, no complaint has been filed with them yet in this incident. An autopsy of the deceased’s body will be conducted at the hospital.

Due to a low-pressure area, scattered rain has been occurring in various districts of south Bengal, including Kolkata, since Sunday. On Monday, due to continuous rain, the tree trunk was weakened and subsequently collapsed.

–IANS

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