Only 3 of Odisha’s 568 hospitals meet fire safety norm: NHRC

The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that at least 21 persons died and more than 100 others were injured in the blaze that broke out at the SUM Hospital and Medical College on Monday evening. “In Odisha, out of 568 hospitals, only three have clearance of the department of fire safety,” the NHRC said in a statement on Wednesday. The Commission has issued the notice to the Odisha government’s Chief Secretary and sought a report in the matter within six weeks, including on the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the next of kin of the deceased and the injured, an NHRC official said.

One more person died of suffocation on Wednesday, taking the number of those killed in the fire at SUM hospital to 21 even as the Odisha government announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those killed. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who earlier issued directions for free treatment to the injured in different hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia before leaving for New Delhi.

“The Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the victims,” a communication from his office said. Union Health Minister J P Nadda said the Centre will soon issue fresh advisory to all states to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued a notice to the Odisha government’s Chief Secretary, asking him to submit a report about the mishap in six weeks.

The superintendent of Sum Hospital, who was among the four officials arrested in connection with a major fire at the medical facility in Odisha on Tuesday, was on Wednesday admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack after complaining of chest pain. Pushparaj Samantasinghar was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Cardiology Department of the SCB Hospital, a police official said.