Families mourn victims of Cuttack health hub fire tragedy

Kendrapada: Rabindra Kumar Das (38), a mason of Narayanpur village under Marsaghai block in Kendrapada district, was killed on Sunday night in a fire accident at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.

Sasmita Das (33), the wife of Rabindra, was inconsolable. “My husband had been undergoing treatment for the past three weeks as he had suffered spinal cord injuries in an accident while working. I never thought I would ever have to come across such a tragedy. I have a 12-year-old son and three minor daughters,” said a sobbing Sasmita.




“Last year, my husband started building a house in the village, which he planned to complete this year. He is dead now,” added Sasmita.

Before Saturday, the Dases were living a happy life in the non-descript Narayanpur village under Angalei gram panchayat, when all of a sudden, their lives turned into hell with Rabindra’s demise.



All four children weep for their father who will never return home. Tears were rolling down the cheeks of many relatives and neighbours at Narayanpur village on Monday evening when the body arrived in the village.

Bharat Das (54), a neighbour, was teary while remembering Rabindra. “He was such a pleasant person. I never saw him angry. He worked as a mason in the village and its nearby areas to look after his wife and four children. Now, the future of his wife and children is at stake,” said Bharat.

“A large numbers of patients in the district depend on the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for their treatment. But this tragedy will force them to depend on private hospitals for treatment,” said Mangaraj Behera, sarpanch of Angalei gram panchayat.

Meneka Rout (62), the mother of four sons and a daughter of Sarumuhi village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district, also died in the inferno.

“My mother, Meneka, was undergoing treatment at SCB on bed number 14 of the trauma care unit for the past two weeks after suffering head injuries in an accident. I was taking rest at hospital, when I heard about the fire in the hospital early on Sunday and tried to enter the room to save my mother. But the security guards prevented me from reaching her bed. After around 60 minutes of the incident, fire brigade men arrived to douse the fire. My mother was burnt alive in the fire tragedy due to gross negligence on the part of the hospital authorities,” said Iswar Rout (40), the son of Meneka in a choked voice.

“The govt should take stern action against the officials and others responsible for this fire incident in the hospital,” added Iswar.