Bhubaneshwar fire: Sum hospital chairman Manoj Nayak surrenders before police

Two days after the massive blaze at Sum hospital in Odisha's Bhubaneshwar killed 21 people, the hospital's chairman Manoj Nayak on Thursday morning surrendered before the police.

"Manoj Nayak, trustee of Sikshya O Anusandhan Charitable Trust, surrendered in connection with SUM Hospital fire that killed 21 people in Bhubaneshwar," said Police Commissioner Y B Khurania.

On Wednesday, detecting serious lapses in fire safety measures at Sum Hospital, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said all those responsible for the incident should be punished.

"It is saddening and very very shocking and worrisome too. I found some safety issues are there (at Sum Hospital) which need to be addressed," Nadda told reporters after visiting the fire-ravaged private hospital.

Stating that the Centre would take measures to ensure better treatment of the patients, Nadda said the state government had constituted panels for conducting inquiry into the mishap.

The kin of the victims who lost their lives in the incident protested outside Bhubaneswar's Sum hospital on Wednesday, demanding compensation and jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed. He also sanctioned Rs 50,000 to each of those seriously injured from the PM's National Relief Fund

Meanwhile, in a shocking claim, the National Human Rights Commission said only three of Odisha's 568 hospitals had fire safety clearance and issued a notice to the state government over the hospital tragedy, the worst of its kind in the state.