Patnaik’s visit to the charred trauma care ICU painted a grim picture of systemic failures. ‘What I witnessed was beyond tragic—it was a glaring indictment of safety neglect in our top medical institution,’ he told the house, his voice laced with emotion.

The fire broke out early Monday, rapidly spreading from the trauma ICU to neighboring areas, trapping patients in a nightmare scenario fueled by alleged administrative oversights. While expressing solidarity with bereaved kin, Patnaik rejected the government’s judicial inquiry as a mere smokescreen.

‘Political leaders cannot escape accountability behind probes,’ he asserted, reiterating his call for Mahaling’s resignation. Patnaik also escalated demands for compensation, urging 50 lakhs per family against the state’s 25-lakh offer from CMRF.

As CM Mohan Charan Majhi grapples with the fallout, this tragedy underscores urgent needs for enhanced fire safety, better equipment, and stricter oversight in Odisha’s hospitals. Patnaik’s intervention signals intensifying opposition scrutiny on health governance.