Viral-Video: A major tragedy was averted at the Government Mother and Child Hospital in Sujangarh, Churu district, Rajasthan, on Wednesday afternoon. Heavy plaster from the dilapidated ceiling of the veranda at the hospital’s main entrance suddenly collapsed and fell. A woman passing by was struck by it and seriously injured. The entire incident was recorded by CCTV cameras installed on the hospital premises. The accident, which occurred at around 1:18 p.m., caused a brief panic within the hospital. Onlookers and security guards immediately rushed the injured woman inside the hospital for treatment, where doctors provided her with first aid.
The injured woman has been identified as 25-year-old Kiran Meghwal, a resident of Guleria village in Sujangarh. She reportedly came to the hospital for personal work. As she was exiting the main gate, plaster and cement debris from the ceiling fell directly on her head. The injury caused a deep wound, requiring two stitches. The woman was discharged from the hospital after treatment. According to reports, she works at a medical store near the hospital. Immediately after the accident, the hospital’s main entrance was closed as a precaution to prevent anyone from reaching the dangerous area.
Most shocking is that the hospital administration had sent a written notice to the Public Works Department (PWD) a day before the accident regarding the poor condition of the building. The letter cited dampness in the roofs due to incessant rain and the dilapidated condition of several areas, including the veranda, and requested immediate repairs. Despite this, no action was taken in time, and the accident occurred the very next day.
According to the hospital administration, not only the veranda but also the roofs of Room No. 1, the vaccination room, and several other rooms are in poor condition. A portion of the ceiling of Room No. 1 has already collapsed. Consequently, the safety of patients, pregnant women, and hospital staff is constantly at risk. This incident raises serious questions about the dilapidated buildings of government hospitals and the negligence of the responsible departments. The only saving grace was that there wasn’t a large crowd at the time of the accident. Had there been a large number of patients or pregnant women present at the time, the accident could have been far more horrific.