SUM Hosp fire: Odisha police issues summons to two other trustees

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 27:

Police today issued summons to two other trustees of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust for questioning in connection with the fire mishap at SUM Hospital in the Odisha capital last week.

The Twin City Commissionerate Police issued summons to Saswati Das-wife of Manoj Nayak and Arati Ranjana Nayak-Manoj’s sister to report to it within seven days, Commisionerate Police sources said.

Apart from Manoj, Saswati and Arati are the other two trustees of Siksha O Anusandhan Charitable Trust that run the Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital.

It may be recalled here that the police had issued lookout circulars against Manoj Nayak and Saswati Das.

While Manoj had surrendered before the Khandagiri police on October 20 and has been arrested, Saswati has been allegedly avoiding the police.

Notably, Saswati and Arati yesterday moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

It is worthwhile to mention here that 19 patients who were undergoing treatment at the SUM Hospital had died due to asphyxiation owing to the massive fire on October 17 which originated from the dialysis ward on the first floor and spread to the ICU on the same floor. In the incident, over 100 others sustained injuries and were shifted to various government and private hospitals.

Later, the death toll has increased gradually to 28 till Tuesday last with more relocated patients succumbing at different hospitals.