A police case was filed against Bhubaneshwar's SUM Hospital on Tuesday and four officials were arrested after a fire at the facility on Monday night killed 20 people and injured at least 100 more, ANI reported. The hospital administration also suspended three of its employees, including an electrical and fire officer. A short circuit in the hospital's dialysis unit was suspected to be the cause of the blaze, which was put out three hours after it started.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited the injured at the AMRI and Capital hospitals on Tuesday morning and assured them that the state government would take care of their medical needs. Calling the incident "very tragic", Patnaik also ordered a revenue divisional commissioner-level inquiry into the fire, according to The Hindu.
At least 40 patients were reportedly present in the dialysis ward when the fire broke out. Carbon monoxide fumes spread through the air conditioner ducts of the hospital, causing many of the victims, who were on oxygen support, to suffocate. The relatives of a few patients had alleged that they were given assurances that there was no need to shift them out of the rooms as the blaze would be brought under control. "But when the smoke became suffocating, the hospital staff fled the spot," said BB Sahoo, whose brother was being treated at the facility. "We were left to evacuate our near and dear ones on our own."
State Director General of Police (Fire Service) Binay Behera said a review meeting will be held to determine whether hospital officials had implemented fire safety measures. Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the Centre was providing all necessary support to the state. The hospital is owned by Manoj Nayak, a businessperson with ventures in education, television channels and newspapers.
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