Thiruvananthapuram: Authorities at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Saturday rejected allegations linking the deaths of five patients to the fire that broke out in the surgical ICU of the multi-speciality block last Tuesday, calling such claims ‘unfortunate’ and factually incorrect. In a joint statement, medical college principal and hospital superintendent said attempts to associate the deaths of patients—all of whom were undergoing treatment for severe injuries sustained in road accidents—with the fire incident were misleading. Treating doctors, including those in charge of the ICU, have clarified that the deaths were unrelated to the fire or its aftermath, they said. According to hospital authorities, post-mortem examinations conducted by the forensic department confirmed that the deaths were due to accident-related injuries and not the fire. They also stated that no formal complaints have been received so far. Warning against the spread of misinformation, officials said legal action would be initiated against media outlets publishing ‘baseless and misleading reports’. However, relatives of some of the deceased have raised serious concerns. The family of Saneesh, a native of Neyyattinkara who was admitted after a bike accident, alleged that his condition worsened significantly following the fire. They claimed the disruption during the emergency evacuation contributed to his death the next morning. Similar concerns were raised by the relatives of Krishnankutty from Oyur, who alleged that his health deteriorated after being shifted from the ICU in the aftermath of the incident. Hospital records show that he died around 12.45pm on the day of the fire. The fire broke out on March 17 in the emergency department of the multi-speciality block, triggering a rapid evacuation. Patients in critical care units, including the ICU, along with hospital staff, were moved to alternative facilities within the campus. Meanwhile, opposition has stepped up pressure on the govt. Leader of the opposition V D Satheesan termed the reports ‘shocking’ and the allegations by relatives serious. Criticizing the Pinarayi Vijayan-led govt, he alleged systemic failures in the healthcare sector and said the incident warranted an urgent investigation.
