Odisha govt must people guilty for SUM Hospital fire: Nadda

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 19, 2016: The Odisha government must punish those guilty of flouting safety norms that caused a massive blaze at a private Bhubaneswar hospital and killed 21 people , health ministry JP Nadda said on Wednesday, agencies reported.

 

Speaking to reporters on a visit to the Odisha capital, Nadda called for action to restore the people’s faith after a fire broke out in the SUM hospital and gutted the intensive care and dialysis units.

“Prima facie, I find some safety issues which need to be addressed, people’s faith need to be reposed,” Nadda was quoted as saying by ANI.

“We see some protocol breach. The inquiry report will come soon. The state government should see that punitive action is taken.”

The local administration has already filed a report that says fire safety norms weren’t followed and many officials in charge of evacuation didn’t coordinate, possibly leading to many deaths and injuries. More than 100 people have been shifted out of the premises for treatment.

On Tuesday, four officials, including the superintendent of the hospital, were arrested and four other employees suspended. The arrests were made shortly after the Odisha government filed two FIRs alleging negligence in conduct and safety against SUM Hospital.