Bhubaneswar, Mar 17: Leader of Opposition and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling following the devastating fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital that claimed 11 lives.
Raising the issue in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Patnaik said the minister must take moral responsibility for what he described as a catastrophic failure in safety oversight. He criticized the state government’s handling of the incident, stating that such tragedies reflect deeper systemic lapses in healthcare infrastructure.
“I stand here today with a heavy heart. What I witnessed at SCB Medical was not just a tragic accident, but a stark reminder of the crumbling safety standards in our premier healthcare institution,” Patnaik said, recalling his recent visit to the hospital.
He further asserted that ordering a judicial inquiry alone is not sufficient and does not absolve those in leadership positions. Patnaik insisted that accountability must be fixed at the highest level, reiterating his demand for the immediate resignation of the Health Minister.
The Opposition leader also called for enhanced compensation, demanding ₹50 lakh for the families of each deceased victim, terming the ₹25 lakh ex-gratia announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as inadequate.
The fire, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit, broke out on Monday, leaving several others injured and raising serious concerns over hospital safety standards.
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