TVM Medical College fire outbreak: Relatives allege 5 patients who were shifted from ICU died

Four days after a fire broke out in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College ICU, forcing the immediate evacuation of patients, allegations have surfaced that five of them died in the following hours.

The relatives have alleged that the immediate shifting of patients who required critical care caused the deaths. Medical College Superintendent Dr Jayachandran has not responded to the allegations. 

Authorities said that an official press note in response to relatives' allegations will be released soon. According to authorities, 33 patients were in the surgical ICU on the day of the fire outbreak. 

It is now alleged that five patients, Saneesh, Krishnankutty, Abdul Raheem, Omana Amma and Sreedharan died due to medical neglect following the fire. The officials have maintained that all the patients were safely evacuated to other wards, and an ICU was set up there.

The fire broke out on the morning of March 17 in the Surgical ICU at the hospital's multi-speciality block. Saneesh died the following night at around 8.30 pm. His relatives allege that the ventilator unit that caught fire had been used for his treatment.

Saneesh, a tile setter by profession, had sustained serious injuries in a road accident on March 8. The mishap occurred around 9.30 pm near the Neyyattinkara bus stand junction on the Karamana–Kaliyikkavila road, after the motorcycle he was riding went out of control and overturned. He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of the Medical College Hospital.

According to the family, hospital authorities had earlier indicated that his condition was improving and that he had been placed on a liquid diet within two days of admission.

However, they claim that no information was shared following the fire. It was only on the morning of March 18 that they were informed his condition had turned critical, and he died later that night. His funeral was held subsequently.

Saneesh is survived by his wife, Leena, and children, Aby and Ebin.

Meanwhile, hospital authorities have reportedly said that no formal complaint has been received regarding Saneesh's death.

"Saneesh had sustained severe injuries in the accident and was in a critical condition, which is why he had been placed on ventilator support. The fire did not cause harm to any patient," officials said.