Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Thursday granted bail to Saswati Das, the wife of SUM hospital owner Manoj Nayak and his sister Arati Ranjana Nayak in connection with the fire mishap in the hospital which claimed 31 lives and left many injured.
Das and Nayak are trustees of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that runs the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital. On November 4, citing health grounds both had sought 15 days time to appear before police in connection with the fire mishap.
Based on the complaint filed against the duo, the Khandagiri police had issued summons to Saswati and Arati on October 27 to appear before it within seven days.
Following the arrest of Manoj, Saswati and Arati apprehending their arrest had moved the HC on October 28 seeking anticipatory bail.
At least 19 patients undergoing treatment at the ill-fated health care unit had died due to asphyxiation owing to the massive fire on October 17 which originated from the dialysis ward on the first floor and spread to the ICU on the same floor. In the incident, over 100 others had sustained injuries and were shifted to nearby government and private hospitals.