Hospital fire claims lives of two Congress leaders

The Congress in West Bengal today demanded exemplary punishment to the offenders of the devastating fire in AMRI hospital which claimed over 85 lives, including two of its leaders who were admitted as patients.

"It's a serious criminal offence. Highest legal action should be initiated against it," former WBPCC president and state's Irrigation Minister Manas Bhuniya said describing the incident as "unprecedented and biggest ever in the country".

"We have lost two of our leaders, former AICC member Ajoy Ghoshal and former MLA (1972-1977) from Shyampur in Howrah district Sisir Sen, in the incident," he said after visiting the site.

"The incident along with the death of two party leaders has already been informed to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress high command Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, AICC General Secretary in-charge of West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi through fax and e-mail," Bhuniya said.

"Sanction to the hospital and its building structure, which were given during the time of erstwhile Left Front government, should be probed thoroughly and forensic test of its basement should be done to ascertain storage of many inflammable articles," he said.

He also demanded that the situation in all city hospitals from security point of view should be reviewed in public interest.

Describing the incident as "shocking and painful" during his visit to the site, the WBPCC chief Pradip Bhattacharjee demanded thorough investigation by an efficient agency and action against offenders.