Hi-Tech Hospital blast: Victim claiming to be Dilip Samantray dies, toll rises to 3

Bhubaneswar: In a major twist and turn in the Hi-Tech Hospital AC Compressor blast case in Bhubaneswar, a victim, who claimed himself as Dilip Samantray, succumbed under treatment in the wee hours of today.

Dilip Samantray, the victim admitted following the explosion on December 29, 2023, died while undergoing treatment, the hospital authorities informed.

“Amid the confusion over identity, the victim passed away. We will hand over the body to the police. Further decision will be taken as per instructions of police,” said Hi-Tech Hospital CEO Smita Padhi.

Speaking to media over alleged medical negligence that led to death, she clarified, “We provided the best treatment to the patient for which the victim came out of ventilator and claimed himself as Dilip Samantray. The emotional turbulence he faced after his claim might have traumatised him.”

Dilip died between 3.00 AM and 3.30 AM at the Hi-Tech Hospital in Bhubaneswar. With his death, the toll in the blast incident reached 3.

Earlier, Dilip was said to have succumbed to burn injuries on December 30, following which the body was handed over to his family for cremation. Unable to bear agony, Dilip’s wife died by suicide after hearing about the sad demise of her husband.

The incident took a twist on January 4 when one of the victims believed to be Jyotiranjan Mallick undergoing treatment at the hospital claimed himself as Dilip, who was declared.

Total 4 persons were admitted to the Hi-Tech Hospital in Bhubaneswar after an AC Compressor exploded during gas filling on December 29. The hospital made it clear that the persons were not its employees. They were working for an AC repairing agency outsourced by the hospital.

A body that was completely burnt in the blast was initially identified as Dilip Samantray, a native of Khordha district. The Hi-Tech Hospital authorities came under fire with the confusion over true identity of the body when one of the injured persons undergoing treatment in the name of Jyotiranjan Mallick woke up from the ventilator on Thursday and claimed himself as Dilip Samantray.