A tense atmosphere gripped the SCB Medical College and Hospital campus on Tuesday morning after a 21-year-old youth climbed a 50-foot water tank and subsequently jumped from it.
The victim, identified as Rajesh Parida from Jajpur Town, is currently battling for his life at the hospital’s trauma casualty unit.
According to eyewitnesses and hospital sources, Rajesh had been brought to SCB Medical College by his parents for psychiatric consultation. The family had arrived following a similar distressing incident a day prior, when Rajesh had attempted to jump from a rooftop in Jajpur Town.
On Tuesday morning, while waiting near the outpatient section of the Psychiatry Department, Rajesh suddenly broke away from his parents and darted toward a nearby water tank. Within moments, he scaled the nearly 50-foot structure, triggering widespread panic and drawing a large crowd.
Police and fire personnel rushed to the scene, engaging in a tense, 30-minute negotiation to coax him down safely. Despite prolonged efforts by rescue teams, family members, and hospital staff, Rajesh refused to descend. Tragically, before safety nets or final rescue manoeuvres could be fully deployed, he jumped from the summit.
He sustained severe injuries to his head, chest, hands, and legs. Medical personnel immediately shifted him to the trauma casualty department, where he is undergoing intensive treatment. Doctors have confirmed that his condition remains extremely critical.
The incident has once again turned the spotlight toward the urgent need for enhanced mental health support systems, specialised crisis intervention protocols in public hospitals, and heightened safety measures around high-risk structures within medical campuses.
