Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports on the death of 21 patients who died in a major fire in the SUM Hospital on Monday evening, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to the State Government asking it to submit a report in this matter within six weeks.
The commission in its notice to Chief Secretary AP Padhi also directed to mention other details including relief and rehabilitation to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured as well as precautionary measures taken or proposed to be taken by to prevent recurrence of such mishaps.
“Reportedly, the hospital in question was warned as early as in 2013 for not having the safety measures, but the hospital authorities ignored it. In Odisha, out of 568 hospitals, only three have fire safety clearance,” the order stated.
The commission observed that callous attitude and lapses of the authorities, if any, amount to violation of right to life of the patients. It also expressed shock and anguish over the permission of the State Government to such a large number of hospitals to function without proper fire safety clearance.
Reportedly, the SUM Hospital fire broke out in the operation theatre of the dialysis ward and spread to the Medicine ICU.
Meanwhile, the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) and the RDC Central Division have started their separate probes into the fire tragedy.