Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Monday constituted a six-member fact-finding team to investigate the cause of the blaze, which claimed lives of 10 patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack city.
Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh has been appointed as the chairman of the committee, which also includes Fire Services IG Umashankar Dash, Chief Electrical Inspector and EIC Barada Prasanna Dash, EIC of the Urban Public health Department Biranchi Narayan Pradhan, Chief Engineer (Buildings) Priyabrata Samantaray, and Director of Medical Education and Training Santosh Kumar Mishra.
The committee has been tasked with conducting a thorough on-site inspection of the SCB Medical College and Hospital to determine the precise circumstances and lapses, if any, that contributed to the unfortunate fire and subsequent loss of lives. It has been asked to submit a detailed report to the Chief Secretary by evening.
The fire erupted in the early hours in the Trauma Care ICU, where critically ill patients, many on ventilators and oxygen support, were being treated. Besides 10 deaths, around 11 hospital staff also sustained injuries while helping shift patients to safety following the mishap suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
The CM had earlier rushed to the hospital to take stock of the situation. He also held an emergency meeting with senior officials, including the Police Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, S Dev Datta Singh. “A total of 23 patients have been shifted to other departments. Seven serious patients died while shifting to other ICUs and wards, while another three persons died later. I have directed the officers concerned for proper treatment of the injured,” he told reporters.
Majhi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, identified as identified as Ramesh Parida, Dasharu Munda, M D Nyum, Gauranga Barik, S K Abdul Sattar, Madhusudan Dalai, Krushnachandra Biswal, Rabindra Das, Cheru Parida and Menaka Rout.
