Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Monday, BJP spokesman Anil Biswal alleged that three of four technicians, who were critically injured in the AC cylinder blast on the premises of the Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, died due to the mistake of the hospital.
He said though the hospital lacked the facilities to provide treatment to persons with severe burn injuries, it had admitted the four persons, who had sustained critical burn injuries in the blast, for treatment.
“The victims had suffered more than 90% burn injuries, while the Hi-Tech Hospital has facilities for treatment of patients with 20% injuries only. The hospital authorities allowed their treatment only to hide their mistakes in the incident,” Biswal said.
The BJP leader further said since the Health Department and the Labour Commissioner were silent on the death of three persons, it was apparent that the government trying to protect the Hi-Tech Hospital. “It is obvious that the government do not want to take any action against the hospital as its owner Tirupati Panigrahy is a member of the ruling BJD,” he added.
He demanded strict action against those responsible for the death of the technicians and a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of each deceased person.
Earlier in the day, Chhatra Congress activists staged demonstration and hurled eggs at Health Minister Niranjan Pujari’s official quarters in Bhubaneswar demanding arrest of Panigrahi.
They also alleged that the government was trying to protect Panigrahi since he is a BJD leader and demanded cancellation of licence of the medical college-cum-hospital and Rs 50 lakh compensation each to the kin of the deceased.