A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the fire at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) that claimed lives of six people.

The hospital authorities formed the probe body on Monday night and asked it to submit its report within three working days.

Prof Dr Golam Rahman, head of the hospital’s Medicine Department, has been made convener of the committee, while hospital Assistant Director Mohammad Mainuddin Khan has been appointed member secretary.

A representative of the Fire Service, an executive engineer of the Public Works Department and an engineer from the Power Division are other members of the committee.

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities and the administration have so far found no concrete evidence confirming that six people died in a stampede following the fire.

The issue created widespread confusion after reports circulated in the media and on social media that six people, including a child, died in a stampede while rushing down the stairs after the fire broke out.

A meeting was held at the hospital’s administrative building around 11:30pm on Monday to assess the situation.

Briefing journalists around 1:00am on Tuesday after the meeting, Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner SM Humayun Kabir Sarkar said the report of six deaths in a stampede was not correct.

“No evidence has so far been found that anyone died in a stampede at the hospital,” he said, adding that authorities checked the wards, emergency department and morgue.

Humayun said two bodies found at the emergency department were of patients who had died of natural causes.

Another two reported deaths were being investigated, he added.

Deputy Inspector General (Mymensingh Range) of police Mohammad Zahidul Hasan said the matter was still under investigation and that no concrete evidence emerged to confirm the reported death toll.

He said authorities were checking different parts of the hospital and speaking to relatives of patients.

Hospital management committee Vice Chairman and local MP Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid also said the reports of six deaths in the stampede were unfounded.

He said a woman named Jahanara, whose name had appeared on a reported list of victims, was actually still admitted to the hospital.

Relatives claim three died in rush

Although six deaths were initially reported, relatives of three people said they died after falling or being trampled while patients and attendants rushed to leave the hospital following the fire.

They were identified as Kulsum Akter, 35, wife of Shahidul Islam of Balikha village in Tarakanda upazila, Shahjahan Monir, 45, of Bishnurampur village in Rangamatia union of Fulbaria upazila, and Ramzan Ali, 40, of Bidyananda Notun Bazar village in Kaladaha union of the same upazila.

Kulsum went to the hospital with her 12-year-old son, Swadhin, who was suffering from jaundice.

According to her daughter Mim, Kulsum was injured while coming down the stairs amid the panic after the fire broke out. She was later admitted to the old building’s second floor through the emergency department but died about 20 minutes later.

Shahjahan Monir was admitted to Ward 14 with stomach pain four or five days earlier and was later transferred to Ward 33 on the third floor of the new building.

His brother Abdul Mannan said Shahjahan fell while trying to come down amid the rush following the fire and died after being trampled.

Ramzan Ali was admitted to the hospital on Monday morning with heart-related problems and was staying on the fourth floor. His wife Khadija said they were trying to take him downstairs when he fell amid the rush and was trampled by people.

Another reported victim, Hazera Khatun, wife of Ayub Ali of Purbadhala upazila in Netrakona, was reportedly discharged before the fire and had already left the hospital with her husband.

Fire breaks out in lift

The fire originated from a lift in the hospital’s new building around 5:45pm on Monday and spread to parts of several floors within a short time.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control after 30 minutes.

After reports of six deaths in a stampede spread, the incident triggered widespread reactions on social media and created considerable concern among patients, relatives and people in the surrounding areas.