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Odisha, October 21: The death toll in the tragic Sum Hospital fire has risen to 25 on Friday with the death of two patients who were undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. The severity of the the entire tragedy has been so extreme that Odisha’s Health Minister, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has resigned from his post. Further, SUM Hospital founder Manoj Nayak has been remanded in custody. (ALSO READ- Bhubneshwar Fire: This heroic doctor’s actions saved lives of 4 babies)
Due to the severe consequences of the fire, the Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday visited the SUM hospital. The fire that happened on Monday, killed scores of people at once. After the visit by Minister Nadda, alleging negligence of the hospital authorities in adhering to fire safety norms, the Fire Services Department lodged an FIR with the Khandagiri police. This has led to the arrest of the SUM Hospital founder Manoj Nayak.
Approximately 106 people have been injured in the tragedy and are currently undergoing treatment. Along with the founder of the SUM Hospital, another four SUM Hospital officials were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the incident. (ALSO READ- Fire in Sum Hospital: Death toll rises to 21)
The political blowback after the tragedy has been extreme with leaders expressing their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed his sorrow and demanded that the injured be moved to the AIIMS hospital. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday expressed their heartfelt sympathies for the victims.
Odisha’s own Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has called the accident “very tragic” and directed the government hospitals to provide necessary treatment to patients shifted from the hospital. Moreover, Chief Minister Patnaik has also requested all private hospitals to extend treatment to those affected. The political blowback is considered to be the main reason behind Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak’s resignation. Commenting on his resignation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said, “Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has resigned on moral grounds, I have accepted his resignation and sent it to the Governor.”
Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has resigned on moral grounds, I have accepted his resignation & sent it to the Governor: Odisha CM pic.twitter.com/T5NAf5YsEc
— ANI (@ANI_news) October 21, 2016
The tragedy in the SUM Hospital is said to have spread to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after it was triggered by an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward on the first floor of the private hospital. The fire then rapidly spread to other areas on the same floor of the hospital building. A massive rescue operation was later launched in the hospital by the commissioner of police and fire brigade personnel along with volunteers and hospital staff. Around more than 500 indoor patients were trapped in the building, hospital officials said. (ALSO READ- Fire at SUM hospital in Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik describes the mishap as very tragic)
Around seven fire tenders were sent to control the blaze and over a dozen ambulances deployed to shift the critical patients to other hospitals. Many patients were saved by breaking window panes of the ICU. A high-level probe has been directed into the incident by the Director, Medical Education and Training, by the state government.
Approximately 106 patients were shifted from the SUM hospital to different other hospitals including Capital Hospital, AIIMS, AMRI Hospital, Kalinga Hospital, KIIMS and Hitech Hospital in Bhubaneswar, while some were sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
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