Patient dies hours after ceiling fan falls on him in Delhi's GTB hospital

According to the patient's death certificate, reviewed by HT, Akbar died at around 12.16 am, less than three hours after the incident.

Updated on: Jul 19, 2026, 19:07:20 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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A 42-year-old patient admitted to the emergency ward of Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital was injured after a ceiling fan fell on him while he was undergoing treatment on Saturday night. The patient, identified as Md Akbar, died within hours of the incident.

The deceased, MD Akbar, was brought to GTB hospital's emergency department on July 18 by his brother with complaints of hypertension, meningoencephalitis and aspiration pneumonia, according to hospital staff aware of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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The incident occurred at around 9.30 pm on Saturday when a nursing officer was administering treatment to Akbar in the emergency ward 27. During the procedure, a ceiling fan allegedly detached and fell on the patient.

"The fan fell directly onto the patient's bed while treatment was being administered. The nursing officer attending to him also sustained injuries in the incident," said a hospital staff member aware of the developments.

Both the patient and the nursing officer suffered injuries, hospital staff said.

According to the patient's death certificate, reviewed by HT, Akbar died at around 12.16 am, less than three hours after the incident.

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The cause of death has been recorded as hypertension, meningoencephalitis and aspiration pneumonia, on the death certificate.

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Hospital staff, aware of the matter, further informed the hospital that family members of the deceased had gathered at the hospital on Sunday morning, questioning the quality of treatment and raising concerns over the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A response from GTB Hospital is pending.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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