Second victim of Bhubaneswar Hi-Tech hospital blast succumbs, kin allege massive cover-up

One more person injured in the fatal explosion at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital at Pandara in Bhubaneswar succumbed on Tuesday night taking the death toll in the mishap to two.

The deceased has been identified as Sritam Sahu (23) from Delang in Puri district. He was said to be the sole breadwinner of his family.

Two other injured are reportedly under treatment and are stated to be in critical condition.

They were injured during an outdoor AC gas filling at the hospital on December 29. The container burst and four staff of the hospital sustained injuries.

Sritam’s father Nakula Sahu alleged a massive cover-up in the blast to save the private hospital from trial. Speaking to OTV, Sahu said, “When I came here after the blast, I saw mutilated and charred bodies of all four staff. They were all dead immediately after the blast. But the hospital authorities did not reveal the truth and now gradually releasing the death numbers so that the news dies down in media.”

“My son was dead on the day of the blast. But the hospital hid it and announced his death only yesterday. That is why they did not let me see my son in the hospital in these six days,” he alleged.

Sritam’s uncle said, “All four persons had died on the night of the blast itself. The hospital authorities hid the facts with the help of the government to avoid media glare and scrutiny. I have my friends and sources inside the hospital who told me that there was no treatment for them as they were already dead. The hospital will gradually release the deaths of the other two persons in the next 2-3 days.”

Dilip Samantray was the first victim of the blast, the news of whose death came on December 31. The grief-stricken wife of Dilip reportedly hanged herself at her house in Jatni on Monday.

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She was depressed following Dilip’s death and was staying at her father’s house at Nuagaon in Jatni. Unable to bear the grief anymore, she reportedly hanged herself in her room.