Odisha hospital fire: Probe panel invites affidavit from the public

Cuttack: As part of its investigation into the fire at SUM Hospital on 17 October, in which 25 people have died so far, the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), has invited sworn affidavits from the public. [caption id=“attachment_3073172” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] The RDC has issued a notification asking individuals and organisations to submit their affidavits at the Commission’s office by 3 November. Meanwhile, a local court on Tuesday postponed the hearing of the bail petition of Manoj Ranjan Nayak, the owner of SUM Hospital. Nayak, presently lodged at the Jharpada Jail, moved the district and sessions judge court in Khurda. However, the court postponed the hearing to Thursday as the police could not submit the case diary, Nayak’s advocate SN Das said. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident under Commission of Enquiry Act of 1952 and appointed the RDC AB Otta as its commissioner. The office of the inquiry commission will function from Cuttack, the RDC’s secretary has been appointed as the panel secretary. Among the terms of references, the commission has been asked to find out the cause of the fire and whether the hospital was adequately equipped to avert such type of incident. The Commission has also been asked to ascertain whether the hospital had obtained the requisite licenses from different agencies and it met the mandatory fire safety norms as prescribed by the state fire service department. The RDC said soon after receiving the affidavits, he will record the statements of the witnesses and try to submit the report to the government within the stipulated time.