- 24 people were killed after a fire at SUM hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Monday.
- Four hospital staff members were arrested by the police on Tuesday.
- An FIR was registered by Fire Service department against the hospital authorities.
- Another FIR was registered against the hospital by the Director Medical Education and Training.
- A short-circuit reportedly caused the fire which engulfed the ICU ward.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed Health Minister JP Nadda to facilitate transfer of patients to AIIMS.
- Patients were transferred to nearby hospitals in the state.
- Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, visited the SUM, AMRI, and AIIMS hospital.
The death toll of the fire in SUM Hospital in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha rose to 24 with the death of another victim who was undergoing treatment. The deceased was identified as Harihar Malla, reported Times of India.
Hospital Superintendent and three others staff members were arrested a day after the incident, Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner said.
The state Fire Department and the Director Medical Education and Training (DMET) registered separate FIRs against the hospital authorities on Tuesday.
Over 20 other people were injured after fire engulfed the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of the Bhubaneshwar hospital, according to agency reports.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Visits the Injured, Orders Inquiry
On Tuesday morning, Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik visited the AIIMS and AMRI Hospitals to see the treatment of the survivors of the tragedy.
Patnaik late on Monday visited the SUM Hospital to take stock of the situation. The minister, deeply grieved by the hospital fire, ordered an inquiry to look into the cause of the fire that claimed the lives of 20 people.
The state government has launched a high-level probe into the incident to ascertain the cause of the fire and whether there was any lapse on the part of the hospital authorities.
Twenty-four fire tenders were sent to the hospital to contain the fire which broke out after a short circuit at the ICU, according to TV reports.
Fire service wing has started the probe into cause of the fire and the revenue divisional commissioner has also started a simultaneous inquiry. ICU, dialysis ward and emergency ward have been sealed by police, reported Times of India.
Meanwhile, SUM Hospital suspended four employees – one fire official, two engineers and the hospital manager – and are pending inquiry, said an internal inquiry committee.
Deeply Anguished by the Loss of Lives, Says PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took to Twitter to react to the situation in Bhubaneshwar.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
All Necessary Support is Being Given to Odisha, Says JP Nadda
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday said the Centre is providing all necessary support to Odisha.
Nadda said that he has already spoken to the AIIMS in Bhubaneswar and asked it to provide all necessary help to the patients.
Deeply saddened by the fire incident in the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM hospital, Bhubaneswar. My condolences rest with the bereaved families.Union Health Minister JP Nadda
Nearly 70 Patients Transferred to Other Hospitals
The fire, which was said to have started from the dialysis ward on the first floor, quickly spread to other areas, including the ICU on the same floor of the four-storey hospital building.
The commissionerate of police and fire brigade personnel along with volunteers and hospital staff launched a massive rescue operation as more than 500 patients were trapped in the building, hospital officials said.
Nearly 70 patients have been transferred to other hospitals and 20 patients were reportedly trapped in the ICU ward.
Director of the Capital Hospital BB Patnaik said a majority of the victims were admitted to the ICU of the SUM Hospital and are receiving ventilatory support.
He said two of the critically injured patients have been admitted in the ICU of Capital Hospital.
Besides the Capital Hospital, Dr Patnaik said, the patients were shifted to nearby Amri Hospital, Apollo Hospital, Kalinga Hospital, SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, and some other hospitals in the state capital region.
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered a high-level probe by the Director of Medical Education and Training, into the incident.
State's Health Minister Atanu S Nayak said stringent action will be taken if the hospital authorities were found guilty of negligence.
So far we have received some ‘brought dead’ people at the Capital Hospital. However, I cannot exactly say the number of persons who have died in the incident.Arati Ahuja, Health Secretary
However, the Capital Hospital Superintendent Binod Kumar Mishra said, "We have received nine bodies, while five others are in very critical condition. The toll may increase."
Meanwhile, AMRI Hospital (Bhubaneswar) unit head Dr Salil Kumar Mohanty said, "A total of 37 patients were received at our casualty ward. Our doctors have declared eight persons as brought dead."
"Most of the victims were in the first floor ICU of the ill-fated Sum Hospital," said a doctor at the Capital Hospital.
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