Just 3 out of 568 hospitals in Orissa follow fire safety norms: NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on Wednesday that only 3 of the 568 hospitals in Orissa have fire safety clearances, and indicted Sum Hospital, where the toll in Monday’s fire tragedy mounted to 21, for ignoring warnings about inadequate safety measures in 2013.

A shocked NHRC issued notice to the Orissa government and sought a report in six weeks. While the police issued a lookout circular for Sum Hospital’s promoter Manoj Nayak, Union health minister JP Nadda exerted pressure on the state to punish those responsible for the latest fatal blaze. A Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team on black money also directed the Enforcement Directorate to examine the financial transactions of the institution.