Bhubaneswar, March 19: A tragic fire incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on March 16 has led to the official confirmation of 12 patient fatalities. In response, four officials, including three from the fire department and one engineer, have been suspended for negligence in duty.
Opposition parties, including BJD and Congress, intensified protests both inside and outside the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling.
Following the allegations of negligence, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi ordered the suspension of the four officials. They have been identified as Prakash Kumar Jena (Deputy Fire Officer, Cuttack Circle), Sanjeev Kumar Behera (Assistant Fire Officer, Cuttack Circle), Abhinav Prusti (Station Officer, SCB Medical College and Hospital), and Ranjan Kumar Biswal (Assistant Executive Engineer, SCB Sub-Division, GED, Cuttack).
Notably, the Chief Minister had previously established a six-member fact-finding team led by Development Commissioner Devaranjan Kumar Singh to investigate the causes of the fire at SCB Medical College.
Additionally, the state government has formed a one-member judicial inquiry commission chaired by retired District Judge Lakshmidhar Biswal. This commission has been tasked with submitting its report within 60 days from the date of notification in the Odisha Gazette.
The commission will investigate the sequence of events related to the fire, determine the roles, conduct, and accountability of involved individuals or officials, assess the preparedness of the hospital and other agencies to handle such incidents, and evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken before and after the incident to save patients’ lives.
The government has also instructed the commission to provide recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies in the future.
Reports indicate that the devastating fire broke out between 2 AM and 3 AM in the ICU of the Trauma Care Center at SCB Medical College due to an electrical short circuit. The incident resulted in the loss of 12 patients’ lives.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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