Inquiry will reveal everything: CM on Murshidabad hospital fire

The inquiry into the fire incident at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital will bring everything to light, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. Banerjee was addressing media persons at the State Assembly and said the incident was “very unfortunate” and an inquiry will reveal who was responsible.

“I love politics, but I do not love destructive politics. It brings negativity. Creating disturbance cannot be the only duty of any political party. Please do genuine politics,” said Banerjee, hinting at a political conspiracy.

She added that one person had been arrested in the fire incident at the hospital. Police confirmed that the person had been arrested from Baharampur in connection with the case. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) started to interrogate some people on Sunday. They learnt that the person who was arrested was a district Congress worker.

However along with CID, the state health department is also involved in the probe. RS Shukla, the state health secretary, led the health department team and went to the spot of the incident. Several high-ranking state government officials were a part of the team, including the principal secretary, secretary of fire services department and the assistant secretary of power department.

“We have started the investigation after getting the instruction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

We will make the report and submit it to the state government,” said Shukla after visiting the spot.

He also said that all fire fighting systems have been thoroughly examined by the team. “We have taken note and the report will be prepared. The state government will then decide whether any officials would be penalised or not,” Shukla said, hinting on strict action against the offenders.

Without ruling out the possibility of sabotage behind the fire in Murshidabad Hospital, Additional Director General CID Rajesh Kumar on Sunday had said medical officials posted in the hospital were questioned to ascertain the exact reason behind the fire.

The fire incident on Saturday had claimed three lives. Two women, including a relative of a patient, and a child had died, while many other patients including children were hurt after the fire broke from an air-conditioning machine inside a VIP cabin on the first floor.