Hi-Tech tragedy: Chhatra Congress activists hurl eggs at Odisha Health Minister’s house

The Chhatra Congress on Monday, staged a demonstration over the recent tragedy and subsequent body mix-up fiasco at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar. The activists hurled eggs at the government quarters of Odisha Health Minister Niranjan Pujari.

As per reports, members of the Congress' Student Wing led by Yasser Nawaz staged a demonsration in front of the quarters of Pujari by hurling eggs at the entrance. The protestors are demanding cancellation the license of Hi-tech Medical College and arrest of its owner Tirupati Panigrahi.

“The government is shielding Tirupati Panigrahi as he is a BJD leader. A similar incident happened at SUM hospital and its owner Manoj Nayak was arrested before the commencement of the inquiry. If Nayak can be arrested, why not Panigrahi,” questioned Nawaz.

This is not the first time. There were prior complaints against the hospital too. We demand immediate arrest of Panigrahi, cancellation of Hi-Tech Medical College’s license, and compensation of Rs 50 lakh each for the kin of each deceased in the tragedy,” Nawaj said.

Later, Panigrahi replied to the allegations and said, “The informant informed the hospital about the accident. The doctors received the injured patients and started service. The doctor prepared the Medico Legal certificate (MLC) and allotted bed for patients. The informant identified the patients and their family members carried the body. We only provided service. We do not need to know the patient to treat them.”

“Coming to the ethics part, we never asked them any fees. Moreover, we believe in humanity,” Panigrahi said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Odisha government has said to look into the tragedy, reportedly caused by AC compressor explosion, at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital on December 29 which took the lives of three persons.

The private hospital has landed in controversies after the AC compressor explosion and the subsequent mix-up of the bodies of the deceased – Dilip Samantray and Jyoti Ranjan Mallick.

Though 11 days have passed since the tragic incident, mystery still shrouds the identification of the deceased.