Bhubaneswar: The death toll due to the fire mishap at SUM Hospital mounted to 21 with one more patient succumbing to injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS here today.
The deceased has been identified as Janaki Hui of Jaleswar in Balasore district. Hui was admitted to a private hospital without the knowledge of her attendants soon after the mishap.
“She had remained untraced for at least six/seven hours after the accident. We traced her admitted to Shree Hospital later and shifted to AIIMS in a very critical condition”, son of the deceased said.
Her condition started deteriorating during shifting to other health centre after the mishap at Sum Hospital, he added. “The SUM hospital authorities are responsible for my mother’s death”, son of the deceased alleged.
Meanwhile, chief minister Naveen Patnaik declared Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the families of dead.
At least 19 persons died on the day of the incident while another succumbed on Tuesday at AIIMS during treatment.
Amid much hue and cry, the commissionerate police arrested four officials including superintendent of the leading private hospital following an FIR lodged by the Fire department at Khandagiri police station. The department alleged that the authorities were running the health institute violating the fire safety norms.
Similarly, DMET also registered a separate case with Khandagiri police.