Bhubaneswar: Health minister Mukesh Mahaling on Tuesday asserted that the govt had responded to the SCB Medical College and Hospital fire “with full sincerity and compassion”, even as opposition BJD and Congress demanded his resignation and held protests inside the assembly.As soon as proceedings began at 10.30 am, BJD MLAs trooped into the well of the House with posters, while Congress members raised slogans demanding accountability. Both parties pressed for Mahaling’s immediate resignation.Leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik and Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam jointly demanded Mahaling’s ouster, accusing him of failing to ensure safety standards at the state’s premier hospital. They said the govt must take moral responsibility for the tragedy.The protests disrupted Question Hour. Mahaling, who also handles the parliamentary affairs portfolio, was replying to a starred question on behalf of rural development minister Rabi Narayan Naik when opposition sloganeering drowned his response. Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House multiple times — first from 10.37 am to 12 noon, and again from 12.15 pm to 4 pm — as the uproar continued.Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Naveen said the SCB fire was a stark reminder of collapsing safety standards in the state’s largest health institution.“These were patients who came with hope, only to meet a horrific end due to administrative negligence,” Naveen said, adding that the health department cannot hide behind inquiries while families grieve.Naveen welcomed the judicial inquiry but said it does not absolve the political leadership. He iterated his demand for Mahaling’s resignation and sought an enhanced compensation of Rs 50 lakh for each deceased victim, up from the Rs 25 lakh announced by the govt.Speaking to reporters, Naveen cited the 2016 precedent when Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak resigned as health minister after the SUM Hospital fire in Bhubaneswar that claimed 21 lives.Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das said the incident exposed “shocking lapses in maintenance, lack of supervision, and complete failure of fire safety and emergency response”. He sought a time-bound probe, strong action against those responsible, Rs 1 crore compensation for each bereaved family, and immediate corrective measures.Responding to the criticism, Mahaling said the CM visited SCB soon after the incident and met the injured, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to the CM. “The govt is taking all necessary steps,” he said, adding, “Whoever is found guilty will face strict action.” Mahaling added that fire safety inspections have been completed in 2,010 health institutions across the state. The govt is assessing their requirements, he said, and has arranged a special package of Rs 400 crore in the current financial year.
