CPI(ML) Bihar State Secretary Kunal has expressed deep grief over the devastating fire at Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur, on June 4 and described the incident as extremely serious and alarming. The party expressed deep condolences to the families of those who died in the fire. It demanded adequate compensation for the dependants of all the deceased and proper medical treatment for the injured.
Following the incident, a three-member CPI(ML) inquiry team visited the site under the leadership of Muzaffarpur District Secretary Jitendra Yadav. The team also included Deepak Kumar and Vivek Kumar. The inquiry team found that the entire hospital premises had been turned into a police camp. The site of the incident, especially the ICU ward, had been completely sealed and no one was being allowed to enter. The team spoke to the City SP and the SDO East at the spot.
According to the officials, 12 patients were admitted in the ICU, which had a capacity of 15 beds, at the time of the fire. Five patients died in the incident, while the remaining patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
Kunal said the incident cannot be treated as a mere accident. He demanded a thorough, impartial and high-level inquiry to ascertain the real cause of the fire, the condition of safety arrangements and the responsibility for possible negligence.
He said it must also be investigated whether the hospital was following the Hospital Registration and Regulation Act, fire safety norms and other mandatory health standards.
CPI(ML) demanded that the Health Department, district administration and concerned regulatory bodies immediately intervene and fix accountability in the matter. If any negligence by the hospital management, violation of rules or disregard of safety norms is found during the investigation, strict legal action must be taken against those responsible.
