SUM Hospital Fails To Comply Fire Safety Measures; FIR Filed Against Authority

Bhubaneswar: Even though the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital authority denied that there was any lapse on the management’s part, the fact says a different story.

According to a 2013 fire safety audit report, the SUM hospital did not follow the fire safety norms.

The report found lapses in the fire safety norms followed by SUM hospital. The audit had also asked the hospital authority to rectify the lapses.

However,  it did not respond to the fire department even after three years.

Director General (fire safety) Binay Behera inspected the fire safety measures of the hospital on Tuesday.

He said the department will submit a detailed report to the state government soon.

Meanwhile, a FIR has been filed by the fire department with the Khandagiri police pointing out negligence on parts of the SUM hospital authority.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) also lodged a FIR with the police alleging negligence of hospital authority to adhere the fire safety norms and evacuation of patients.

“We have filed a FIR with the police against the hospital management for negligence over fire safety measures, evacuation of patients and crowd management,” said Umakanta Satapathy, DMET joint director.