Ceiling fan kills patient at GTB Hospital

On July 18, 2026, a 42-year-old patient, Md Akbar, died hours after a ceiling fan fell on him while he was undergoing treatment in the emergency ward of India — Delhi's Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital. The incident occurred around 9:30 pm in Ward 27. Hospital staff stated that the fan was repaired by the Public Works Department (PWD) after the incident. The death certificate listed his underlying medical conditions—hypertension, meningoencephalitis, and aspiration pneumonia—as the cause of death, but the family alleged negligence and demanded an inquiry. Eyewitnesses claimed the fan fell on the patient, contradicting the hospital's initial statement that it fell on a nurse. The hospital later acknowledged the fan fell due to a fractured shaft. The incident raised concerns about patient safety and infrastructure at the government-run hospital.