Congress Demands Rs 25 Lakh Ex-Gratia To Each Victim’s Family

Bhubaneswar: Blaming the State Government and SUM Hospital authorities for deaths of 22 patients in a major fire on Monday, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh each family of the deceased and a Government job.

Addressing a press meet OPCC President Prasad Harichandan said, “The State Government must declare Rs 15 lakh compensation and a job to each family of the deceased and the Central Government should give Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to each bereaved family.”

“Our government didn’t learn anything from the AMRI hospital fire accident at Kolkata in 2011 in which at least 90 people were killed and the AMRI hospital owner was arrested,” Harichandan added.

He questioned about the permission of the hospital which serves hundreds of patients a day. He also demanded a judicial probe along with a technical investigation must be ordered into the incident to ascertain the real cause and to punish the culprits.

Earlier in the day, Communist Party of India (CPI) also sought a hike in the compensation amount announced by the hospital authorities.

“Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia is not adequate. Our party has demanded the amount should be increased to Rs 20 lakh,” CPI national secretary D Raja told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Narsingh Mishra who arrived here this evening from New Delhi, said: “What happened in SUM Hospital is unfortunate and painful. Now, we should take enough measures for the treatment of the injured.”

Besides, the veteran Congress leader also said an independent inquiry should be ordered into the incident and culprits should not be spared.