Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Kolkata:  In a welcome surprise, industrialist Ratan Tata seems to have left behind his Singur face-off with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by backing her in wake of the fire tragedy at Kolkata’s AMRI Hospital.

Mr Tata has tweeted, "The swift and firm action of the Chief Minister is commendable. The heroic actions by the 3 deceased staff members also need recognition. Doctors and attendants allegedly leaving patients to die unattended in these circumstances is unbelievable and deserves condemnation."

Six directors of the AMRI Hospital group have been sent to police custody till December 20 after the devastating fire killed more than 91 people. All the accused have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The focus for investigators now is to piece together what exactly happened at the Hospital on Friday morning that led to such a catastrophe.

"We were not allowed to present our case in court, only the state government presented its case. We will come back on the 20th and see if we are allowed to present," said Amitabh Ganguly, the lawyer of the accused.

The focus also shifted to fixing responsibility for this ghastly incident. Initial investigation indicates the fire started in the upper basement of the building.

The building served as a warehouse for storing hazardous substances like liquid chemicals and medical waste, which is not permitted under law. Sources indicate stock of diesel was also stored at the basement.

Fire department officials had last checked the fire control unit adjacent to the building on September 29. An inspection was due on November 29 but it did not take place. A warning had also been issued to AMRI by the fire brigade in September and the hospital had been asked to remove inflammable material from its basement by December 5. But, a follow up was never done.

Also in focus is the role of the security guards at the hospital who, many allege, ignored the fire till it became deadly.

"We could have saved many more people, but the guards did not let us in till it was too late," said Sunil Jha, an eyewitness.

As the people of Kolkata struggle to come to terms with this tragedy, the question everyone is asking is whether the guilty will be punished, or whether things will be brushed under the carpet over the next few days?