Culprits won't go unpunished, will seek strict fire norms: Nadda

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday said the culprits behind the SUM hospital fire incident here, in which 21 persons were killed and many injured, won't go unpunished.

Nadda also urged the Odisha government to revisit its fire safety norms, which were being violated by a majority of hospitals in the state.

Observing that the incident as very serious in nature, Nadda, who visited the hospital, said the central government will issue an advisory to all states to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.

"We have to make sure that the culprits do not go unpunished. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that action is taken against the culprits. It has been found that the hospital where the incident happened did not have the fire safety measures at place," Nadda said.

"We have certainly asked the officials to revisit the rules so that the protocol and the guidelines are followed," added Nadda, who was accompanied by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Nadda said there was need for better system of management and stricter fire safety norms to deal with fire incidents.

Talking about the fire safety norms violated by the SUM Hospital, Nadda said: "The hospital did not have the clearance of the fire safety measures, despite that the hospital was running. The government has to take care. It is very serious."

The central government has extended every type of help to the state government to deal with the casualties suffered in the fire incident.

A total of 21 persons were killed and more than 100 others injured in the fire which broke out at the SUM Hospitals and Medical College on October 17.

"An inquiry is going on. Prima facie, there are some safety issues which need to be addressed," Nadda said.

--IANS

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