Udaipur, December 5, 2024 – A major accident was averted at Maharana Bhupal (MB) Government Hospital yesterday when an abandoned bag filled with five detonators and five blasting caps were timely discovered by the hospital staff. The bag was discovered last evening in the X-ray room of the Trauma Emergency Building and alarmed medical staff immediately informed the police.

Fortunately, the explosives did not detonate otherwise, a major accident could have occurred.

On investigation, it was found that a private mine worker had forgotten the bag in the ward after he had been admitted to the hospital the previous night due to an injury in an accident. The police seized the bag, but this incident has raised concerns about the security arrangements at the hospital, as approximately 20,000 people visit the hospital daily. The hospital administration did not file a report on the matter, although the police have registered a case on their own.

Mine worker Jagdish, from Mahudi (Parsad), and his companions Ranjit and Pradeep, from Bara (Parsad), had been injured in an accident on December 2 when their bike slipped in Delwara area (Rajsamand). Ranjit died in the accident and the other two were admitted to the ICU of the Orthopaedic Department at MB Hospital.

During police interrogation, Jagdish revealed that he and Pradeep worked at the Sainath Mine in Nadol, Pali. Ranjit also worked at the mine and the bag had belonged to him. After undergoing an X-ray in the Trauma Emergency ward on December 2, Jagdish and Pradeep left the hospital but forgot to take the bag with them. Jagdish said he was unaware that there were explosives in the bag.

 Meanwhile, hospital superintendent RL Suman said patient safety was the hospital's priority and as soon as the suspicious bag was discovered, the police were informed.