SUM hospital fire mishap: 19 deaths due to asphyxiation, confirms autopsy report

Bhubaneswar: The post mortem of 19 deceased, who lost their lives in SUM hospital fire mishap, confirmed their deaths are due to asphyxiation, said police commissioner YB Khurnia on Saturday.

Talking to newsmen, Khurania, said, “We have received the post mortem reports of the 19 deceased from Capital Hospital authorities today.”

“The autopsy report confirmed their deaths are due to asphyxiation. The report also said there are no burn injuries on the bodies of the deceased,” Khurania added.

Meanwhile, intensifying its probe into the SUM hospital fire mishap, which has claimed 26 lives so far, the commissionerate police today interrogated vice-chancellor of Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University and dean of the hospital to find out on what circumstance the patient undergoing treatment there died.

Briefing about the investigation proceedings, Khurania, said, “We have got many important information during interrogation. Mainly, we are trying to understand the organisational structure. We have called many officials including the dean of the hospital for interrogation today and have recorded their statement.”

“Firstly, we are trying to understand about how the hospital authorities are making decisions at different levels, particularly about the files relating to the NOC of fire safety guidelines and the persons who are processing it. We have also seized the relevant records,” Khurania added.

Also read: Supporters of Manoj Nayak attack press

Sources said, the police also grilled some other employees of the hospital today to extract more information about the fire mishap.

But, Saswati Dash, wife of Manoj Nayak, against whom a lookout circular was issued by commissionerate police on Wednesday, is yet to appear before investigation team.