Panic gripped the Ram Prasad Bismil Government Medical College in Shahjahanpur on 24 May after a suspected formalin gas leak from the operation theatre triggered chaos.
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00:00Panic broke out at the Ramprasad Bismil Government Medical College in Shanjapur, UPO on the evening
00:07of 24 May after a suspected gas leak. Around 4 pm, thick smoke was seen billowing out of
00:12the operation theatre. Patients in attendance complained of burning eyes and difficulty in
00:16breathing, forcing an immediate evacuation of multiple wards. According to hospital staff,
00:21the leak was likely of formalin fumes, a chemical widely used for preserving biological specimens
00:26which caused cures and confusion. A stampede-like situation ensued and tragically one tuberculosis
00:32patient died, reportedly due to shock during the panic as claimed by the family. Fire department
00:37teams were rushed to the spot. Special neutralising sprays were deployed to control the chemical effect
00:41and people were seen covering their faces with masks. The hospital administration informed the
00:46situation was under control but the exact cause of the leak is still under investigation. This is not
00:51the first time that such a mishap has occurred in a medical facility. In April 2021, 22 patients
00:57died in Maharashtra's Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik after an oxygen tank leakage led to a massive drop
01:03in supply to critical patients. In May 2021, a fire broke out in the intensive care unit of a hospital
01:08in Bharuj, Gujarat, killing at least 16 COVID-19 patients. The blaze was reportedly caused by a short
01:14circuit, raising concerns about electrical safety in hospital wards. As investigations are underway into
01:20the Shandrapur gas leak, the incident serves as yet another wake-up call for authorities
01:24to prioritise patient safety and hospital hazard management.