Tree collapse at Kolkata's SSKM Hospital kills woman, injures two
Synopsis
A woman from Birbhum who had come to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital to care for a relative was killed when a rain-weakened tree collapsed on a bench outside the Urology OPD. Two elderly men were also injured. Relatives are now questioning why the hospital administration failed to inspect ageing trees during an active monsoon spell.
Key Takeaways
Rahima Bibi , 46 , from Nalhati, Birbhum , died after a tree fell on her at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata , on 24 August .
The tree collapsed outside the Urology Department OPD during the morning rush hour, striking people seated on a bench.
Zillar Rahman, 68 , and Shish Mohammad Sheikh, 76 , were also injured and are being treated at the hospital's trauma care unit.
Continuous monsoon rainfall linked to a low-pressure area had weakened the tree's root structure, according to hospital sources.
No formal complaint has been filed; an autopsy of the deceased is scheduled at the hospital.
Patients' relatives have called on the administration to inspect other trees on the hospital premises.
A 46-year-old woman died and two others were injured after a tree collapsed on the premises of SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on Monday, 24 August, trapping a group of patients' relatives who had been seated on a bench outside the Urology Department's OPD. The incident, which occurred during the morning rush hour, sent panic through the crowded state-run facility.
What Happened
The deceased has been identified as Rahima Bibi, 46, a resident of Nalhati in Birbhum district, who had travelled to Kolkata to care for her relative Aklima Bibi, admitted to the Urology Department. Rahima and several others were sitting on a concrete bench outside the OPD when a tree suddenly fell on them. She was rushed to the hospital's trauma care unit but was declared dead on arrival.
Two others injured in the incident — Zillar Rahman, 68, and Shish Mohammad Sheikh, 76 — are currently undergoing treatment at the same trauma care unit, according to hospital sources.
Weather Conditions Cited
The collapse is being linked to days of continuous rainfall across south Bengal, including Kolkata, triggered by a low-pressure area that has brought scattered showers since Sunday. According to hospital sources, the sustained rain had weakened the tree's root structure, causing the trunk to give way. Notably, the tree stood in a high-footfall area routinely used by patients' relatives as a resting spot.
Relatives Blame Administration
Eyewitnesses and patients' relatives expressed anger over the incident, alleging that the hospital administration had failed to inspect or address the condition of ageing trees on the premises. 'We just rest under the tree like this. No one ever thought that something like this could happen. One person died on the spot. Two others were injured. The administration of the hospital needs to pay attention to this issue and inspect other trees on its premises,' a patient's relative said.
Hospital sources confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed with the administration so far. An autopsy of Rahima Bibi's body is set to be conducted at the hospital.
What Happens Next
The incident has drawn attention to the maintenance of trees and green cover within government hospital campuses across West Bengal, particularly as the monsoon season intensifies. With the low-pressure system expected to persist, authorities may face mounting pressure to conduct emergency tree audits at public institutions across the region.
Point of View
And SSKM is no exception. The fact that a concrete bench had been placed directly beneath an ageing tree in a high-footfall zone, with no apparent inspection during an active monsoon spell, points to systemic maintenance blind spots. One death and two serious injuries later, the administration has yet to receive a formal complaint — which itself reflects how resigned patients' families are to bearing the cost of state negligence. The real question is whether this triggers a mandatory tree-safety audit across West Bengal's public health infrastructure, or fades as another monsoon statistic.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died in the SSKM Hospital tree fall incident?
The deceased is Rahima Bibi , a 46-year-old woman from Nalhati in Birbhum district . She had come to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata to care for her relative Aklima Bibi, who is admitted to the Urology Department.
When and where exactly did the tree fall at SSKM Hospital?
The tree fell on the morning of Monday, 24 August , outside the Urology Department OPD at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. The victims were seated on a concrete bench placed under the tree.
Who else was injured in the incident?
Two others were injured: Zillar Rahman, 68 , and Shish Mohammad Sheikh, 76 . Both are currently receiving treatment at the hospital's trauma care unit, according to hospital sources.
Why did the tree fall?
According to hospital sources, continuous monsoon rainfall linked to a low-pressure area over south Bengal had weakened the tree's root structure, causing it to collapse. The rains had been occurring since Sunday, making the soil increasingly unstable.
Has any action been taken after the incident?
As of the latest reports, no formal complaint has been filed with the hospital administration. An autopsy of Rahima Bibi's body is scheduled to be conducted at SSKM Hospital. Patients' relatives have demanded that the administration inspect other trees on the premises.
