Cuttack: The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central, today recorded the statement of three witnesses in connection with the tragic fire in SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar on October 17 in which 31 patients were killed.
“We had sent notices to 20 witnesses to depose of which only three witnesses turned up. The information which I have is that these witnesses failed to turn up as the notice is yet to be served on them. Some people who were served notice, refused to depose saying that they don’t want to say anything as they have stated in their affidavits. Apart from these, others who failed to turn up today, will be given the time to depose on December 6,” RDC, Central, AB Ota told media persons here.
He further said the RDC has called up 21 witnesses to appear tomorrow while 20 others will depose on December 6.
“Besides, I have also asked others like the owner of SUM Hospital Manoj Nayak and other senior officials of the hospital, DMET, Khurda Collector, CDMO, ADMO who were present when fire in the hospital was extinguished,” he added.
Ota said he had announced that the statement of the witnesses would be recorded in Cuttack on November 28, 29 and 30 and December 1, 2 and 3 in Bhubaneswar. But as the some witnesses did not turn up today, RDC will record their statement in Cuttack on December 6.
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“I had sought detailed information with documents from the SUM Hospital authorities, Khurda Collector and CDMO, DMET, Bhubaneswar DCP and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). Except BDA, all of them have submitted the detailed information with documents. I have given a reminder to BDA to submit the required details,” the RDC said.
Asked whether the three witnesses who had appeared before the RDC were the kin of the patients who had died in the fire mishap, Ota said neither they were the kin nor the eyewitnesses. “They have given their affidavits in support of the SUM Hospital,” he pointed out.
Notably, the state government had directed the RDC to enquire into the fire mishap at the Sum Hospital that had occurred on October 17. While a total of 393 affidavits were received by the last date, 61 will be called for recording their statements in phases.