This story is from January 19, 2021

Bhandara hospital fire inquiry report delayed further

Bhandara hospital fire inquiry report delayed further
Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar-led committee couldn’t finalize the report of inquiry into Bhandara district general hospital fire which claimed the lives of 10 premature babies on January 9, by late Monday evening too.
Till reports last came in late in the evening, Kumar was still in the process of finalizing the crucial report which is likely to fix responsibility for the tragedy and also make suggestions on fire preventions in hospitals to the government.

On Monday morning, home minister Anil Deshmukh had told TOI that Kumar would submit the report by evening. Deshmukh had a discussion with Kumar on Sunday and had taken a review of the inquiry. “The course of action would be decided once the inquiry report is ready, said Deshmukh.
Kumar didn’t respond to TOI’s calls and messages seeking confirmation on submission of the report till the time of going to press.
Sources said Kumar was still holding discussion with the panel members at PWD’s civil lines office till late in the evening. They said Kumar has recommended certain ‘improvements’ in the report submitted by health director Dr Sadhana Tayade, who monitored the probe at hospital level.
Bhandara police is awaiting the report submission to initiate action. The police are already probing the case after registering Sec 174 under CrPC for accidental death.

The expert committee was given an extended deadline till Sunday. Health secretary Pradeep Vyas had informed the state cabinet past week that the panel would submit its report on January 17 which didn’t happen.
Vyas and health commissioner Ramaswamy N didn’t answer TOI’s calls and messages.
The panel has completed its spot inspection and questioning of stakeholders three days back. Since January 15, the panel members are in the city busy writing the report at the commissioner’s office in Old Secretariat. On Sunday and Monday, the members met at the PWD Civil Lines office where Kumar too reached to finalize the report.
Sources said the members are staying back late night to finalize the report.
BMC deputy commissioner (fire safety) Prabhat Rahangdale, who is also assisting the Kumar committee, had visited Bhandara just once on January 12. He is said to be working on his report from Mumbai.
Health director Dr Sadhana Tayade, GMCH paediatric head Dr Dipty Jain, PWD representative, Bhandara collector’s representative and deputy chief fire officer (Mumbai) Rajendra Choudhary have majorly conducted the questioning and spot inspection at Bhandara.
Panel chief Kumar has visited the hospital a couple of times.
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