Rangpur Medical Runs at Two and a Half Times Its Power Capacity, With at Least Five Fires in Five Years

Patients and their relatives at Rangpur Medical College (RMCH) Hospital are living in fear of being burnt in a fire or killed by falling roof plaster while seeking treatment. The hospital's 1,250 kVA power system is carrying a load of nearly two and a half times its capacity.

The hospital is one of the main treatment centres for 20 million people across eight northern districts. It currently has 1,000 beds, but on average more than 2,500 patients are admitted every day, according to the hospital authorities.

According to data from the Public Works Department, under the hospital's 1,250 kVA transformer, the air-conditioning load alone is about 1,600 kilowatts. Adding machines, lights, fans and other electrical equipment takes the total to around 3,000 kilowatts — about two and a half times the capacity of the existing system.

Dilapidated electrical wiring and unplanned air-conditioner installations are raising the fire risk. At the same time, plaster is falling from the roofs and beams of the old buildings, exposing rusted rods. Although at least five fires have broken out at the hospital in the past five years, the safety risk has not gone away. Both the Public Works Department and the hospital authorities are concerned.

Since its establishment in 1968, some electrical connections have been repaired at different times, but no major renovation has been carried out for a long time. Hospital director Brigadier General Ashikur Rahman said, 'The hospital's electrical wiring is very old. There have been mostly partial repairs since establishment. But there has been no major renovation for a long time. The wires are now extremely dilapidated. Many are beyond repair. If they are not replaced quickly, an accident can happen at any moment.'

Ashikur Rahman added, 'Power supply is lower than demand at the hospital. Old wiring and excessive demand for electricity — these two reasons are causing electrical accidents. The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities several times. Letters have also been sent. If the electrical cables are replaced, the risk of short circuits and other major accidents can be reduced.'

A Public Works Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many doctors and consultants at the hospital have installed air conditioners on their own initiative, without following the authorities' approval or any plan.

The official added that electrical cables and AC pipes are stolen from various places in the hospital. When a main cable is stolen, it is not always possible to replace it with one of the same quality. Running connections with low-quality cables obstructs the current flow, which heats the wires and raises the risk of short circuits.

According to hospital records, on 20 December 2021 a fire broke out in one of the hospital's wards, burning beds, air conditioners and furniture, and many people were injured while patients and relatives were being moved out. Another fire occurred on 23 January 2022. On 22 February 2023, a fire broke out in the electrical part of an air conditioner in the burn unit's dressing room. On 23 July the same year, a fire broke out in the isolation ward.

Most recently, on 22 October, a fire started from a short circuit in a switchboard beside the hospital's administrative branch. Many patients and relatives were injured as they rushed out in panic for their lives.

A Public Works Department official said estimates of different amounts have been prepared for renovating the hospital's electrical system — Tk 5 crore for some work, Tk 1.5 crore for other work, and Tk 20 to 25 lakh for other tasks. He claimed allocations do not match demand: when funds are sought for 30 tasks, the allocation in some cases is limited to 10 to 15 percent.

Visiting the hospital on Monday noon, patients and attendants were seen crowded everywhere, with no space to step even on the verandas. Plaster had fallen from roofs and beams in various places. Going up the stairs in front of the administrative building, workers were seen removing fallen roof concrete. Rusted roof rods were exposed, while patients and attendants lay below.

Shahadat Hossain, a patient from Karimpur in Pirganj who was on a veranda, said, 'I hear the hospital's power lines are not in good condition. Fires break out at any time, and roofs collapse too. Having come here for treatment, I now fear dying by burning in a fire or being crushed under a roof.' Rezaul Islam of Mirbag in Kaunia said, 'There is no bed in the hospital. I have to take treatment sitting on the veranda. That is not safe either. A roof collapsed and narrowly missed my head. Fires break out in this hospital, roofs fall.'

The hospital director said that after the 22 October incident, about 250 fire extinguishers have been installed at various places for firefighting and more are being installed, with priority given to places where the risk of fire is higher. Nazmul Hasan, warehouse inspector (Rangpur-1) of Rangpur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said, 'RMCH Hospital is at fire risk.' Executive engineer of the Rangpur Public Works Department, Md Sakiul Alam, could not be found at his office for comment, and he did not receive phone calls.