Tension at Hi-tech Medical College and Hospital as death Toll Rises in AC Compressor Explosion

Bhubaneswar: Tension prevailed at Hi-tech Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Saturday as the death toll in the AC compressor explosion that took place at the hospital rose to three, following the death of a victim who claimed to be ‘Dilip Samantaray’ after being taken off the ventilator. This incident has resulted in an identity ‘goof-up’.

According to the hospital authorities, Dilip passed away around 3:30 am on Saturday.

In the midst of this tragic event, Dilip’s mother, Ahalya Samantaray, accused the hospital of a cover-up in her son’s death.

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“They killed my son. I rushed to the hospital after hearing that my son was alive. He was stable until 1 am and even spoke to me. Around 2 am, they said his condition deteriorated, and an hour later, they declared that he was no more,” she added, expressing her anguish.

The uproar erupted after authorities at Bhubaneswar’s Hi-Tech hospital announced on Friday that the man who succumbed to burn injuries on December 31 was Jyoti Ranjan Mallik, not Dilip Samantaray as previously believed, and that Dilip is still alive.

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According to the hospital, the man receiving medical treatment, Jyotiranjan Mallik, regained consciousness while on the ventilator and identified himself as ‘Dilip’.

It’s worth mentioning that Dilip’s wife, Soumyashri Jena, reportedly died by suicide at her parent’s house on January 1, 2024, unable to bear the shock of Dilip’s ‘death‘.

Following the shocking revelation by the hospital, the kin of the victims staged an agitation on the hospital premises on Friday, protesting the identity mix-up.

Jyotiranjan Mallik’s family members, who were hopeful of his recovery, demanded his body.

However, the hospital authorities had mistakenly handed over his body to Dilip’s family, and it has already been cremated since December 31, 2023. Doctors explained that the confusion arose due to the victims’ unrecognizable faces caused by the blast.

Subsequently, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh stated on Friday, “An ACP rank officer will be investigating the matter. So far, we have not received any cases of medical negligence. If negligence is found, appropriate action will be taken. The four persons were critically injured, and the contractor identified them,” he added.

On the other hand, the hospital blamed the family for the mistaken identity and offered to conduct a DNA test to resolve the issue.

Hospital CEO Smita Padhi commented on Friday, “The four persons who were injured in the incident were staffers of an outsourcing agency, not regular employees of the hospital. After the blast, a staffer of the agency identified them, based on which we maintained the records. The kin of the victims also identified them.”

The bizarre case of identity mix-up has also garnered political reactions, with the BJP urging the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against the hospital authorities for the goof-up and to announce a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the aggrieved families. Congress leader Nishikant Mishra has also called for a high-level inquiry into the incident, demanding clarity on how a living person was mistakenly declared dead and subsequently cremated.

Timeline of the Misidentification Fiasco

December 29, 2023: Dilip Samantaray, along with Simanchal Biswal, Sritam Sahoo, and Jyoti Ranjan Mallik, were repairing the AC compressor on the roof of Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital on Friday evening when the compressor suddenly exploded.

December 31, 2023: Dilip Samantaray was declared dead.

January 1, 2024: Dilip’s wife died by suicide.

January 2, 2024: One of the victims of the mishap, identified as Sritam Sahu (23) from Chainpur village in Delang area of Puri district, succumbed to burn injuries.

January 5, 2023: The hospital revealed that the injured Jyoti Ranjan Mallik claimed to be Dilip Samantaray.

January 6, 2023: Dilip Samantaray passed away.

PNN