Risky Electrical Connections Risk Lives at Chittagong Hospital

A critical safety hazard has emerged at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where patients receiving treatment on the floor are being exposed to dangerously rigged electrical connections. The alarming situation stems from a severe shortage of hospital beds, which has forced numerous individuals to seek care outside of the designated wards. According to verified reports, between 10 to 12 patients have been affected by this hazardous arrangement in the corridor area.

The precarious setup is specifically located on the floor between the medicine ward and the radiology ward of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Because there are not enough beds available inside the facility to accommodate the influx of ill individuals, patients have been compelled to lie directly on the floor. To cope with the lack of built-in infrastructure in these overflow areas, desperate measures have been taken by those accompanying the sick.

In order to provide basic comfort and medical assistance, patient relatives have taken matters into their own hands by running makeshift wiring across the floor where the vulnerable patients are lying. Specifically, relatives have extended connections from main multiplugs originating inside the medicine ward. These improvised lines are then stretched out across the walkway and floor space to power essential devices.

The extended electrical cords are actively being used to operate electrical fans to keep the sick individuals cool, as well as nebulizers required for respiratory treatments. However, running live electrical wires openly across floors where patients are resting creates an extraordinarily dangerous environment. This unauthorized rigging leaves individuals lying on the floor directly exposed to severe electrical shocks and potential short circuits.

Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin addressed the hazardous situation, highlighting the ongoing capacity challenges faced by the medical facility. He noted that the number of patients arriving at the hospital exceeds the available bed capacity on a daily basis. Even when individuals cannot be accommodated inside the wards, the administration must still ensure they receive necessary medical care, leading to patients occupying floor spaces.

Addressing the improper wiring specifically, Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin explained that patient relatives take these electrical connections in this manner without fully understanding the gravity of the situation. He explicitly warned that these actions create a severe risk of accidents and devastating fires within the medical institution. In response to these grave safety concerns, the hospital authorities have confirmed that they will launch operations to crack down on the dangerous practice.