Hospital fire is a conspiracy: expert group chairperson

Kolkata (WB), Aug 27: Chairman of Multi-Disciplinary Expert Group of state and former West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya tonight said the fire at Murshidabad Medical College Hospital was a conspiracy.

"The incident of fire is a conspiracy to malign the image of government and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and halt her good work for the state," Bhattacharya told media here.

In a sharp retort, WBPCC President and Baharampore MP Adhir Chowdhury said Bhattacharya's statement was an inept bid on behalf of the government to hide the failure of its own. "This regime smells conspiracy in everything," Chowdhury said in his response.

Two persons died and seven others were injured in a stampede after a fire broke out in the hospital today triggering panic among patients and their relatives.

"Two women - a nursing aide and a relative of a patient died in the stampede following the incident of fire which broke out at 11.50 AM at the hospital.Seven others are injured," Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring the situation from Kolkata, while a four-member high power team from the state capital led by Bhattacharya has been asked to rush to the spot to assess the situation.

Bhattacharya, who is also managing director of West Bengal Medical Services Corporation, earlier told PTI that she would submit a report to the chief minister after reviewing the situation and making a detailed assessment.

A departmental inquiry has already been ordered into the incident, Satpathy said.

PTI