Mob ransacks, set fire to PHC

A mob ransacked and set on fire a primary health centre in Odish'a Kendrapara district after a physically-challenged para medic staff was suspended.
The para medic was accused of administering intravenous (IV) fluid to an inpatient in the open air.
He had opted to administer the IV fluid under the shade of a tree on being insisted by the patient's attendants as the ceiling fan in the PHC's ward was not functioning.
The situation was restored after deployment of police, sub-divisional police officer Kedarnath Sahu.
Locals have complained that the doctor posted at the PHC remained absent for long stretches and it was the para-medic who attended to the patients.

Kendrapara Additional District Magistrate Mrutunjay Swain said the administration is initiating steps for posting of another physcian at the PHC and probe has been ordered into the lone doctor posted there.
Step is also being taken to withdraw the suspension order served to the para-medic, he added.