Tragic Consequences Unfold as Victim Identity Mix-Up Claims Third Life in Hi-Tech Hospital Blast

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The devastating aftermath of the December 29 blast at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital continues to unfold, as it tragically claims the life of a third victim. Dilip Samantray, one of the three workers involved in the incident, was initially declared dead, then miraculously alive after a week, only to succumb hours after being taken off the ventilator. This heartbreaking turn of events was the result of a mistaken identity, where Dilip was mistaken for his co-worker, Jyoti Ranjan Mallick, by both the police and hospital officials.

Jyoti had sadly passed away on December 31, but due to a mix-up in hospital records, his body was handed over to Dilip’s family. Overwhelmed by the trauma of losing her husband, Dilip’s wife tragically took her own life. When Dilip regained consciousness, he was devastated to learn about the identity confusion with Jyoti. Throughout Friday, tensions flared between Dilip’s and Jyoti’s family members, exacerbating Dilip’s emotional distress, according to sources close to the situation.

On Friday night, Dilip reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and ultimately succumbed to his condition. Dr. Smita Padhi, the CEO of Hi-Tech Hospital, stated, “Dilip was placed on a ventilator, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed. Despite our best efforts, he passed away at approximately 3 am.”

In the midst of grappling with the grave error, the police have decided to conduct a DNA test before handing over Dilip’s body to his family. A senior police officer explained, “To resolve the legal complications, Dilip’s body will be preserved at AIIMS for a DNA test. Only after receiving the DNA test report will his body be handed over to his family.”

The news of Dilip’s second demise within a week has left his family completely shattered. His mother, Ahalya, who rushed to the hospital upon hearing that her son was alive, spent the entire night waiting under a tree on the hospital’s premises in the cold. Heartbreakingly, she received the devastating news of Dilip’s passing once again.

Ahalya expressed her grief, saying, “After learning that my son was alive, I had promised to donate a bell at Somnath Temple in Jatni’s Harirajpur. My prayers had been answered, but now I have no reason to live as both my son and daughter-in-law have left me.”

However, the villagers in Dilip’s community remain unconvinced by the hospital’s explanation for his death. They allege that the hospital authorities and police are colluding to suppress the matter. Sashikanta, a village resident, voiced suspicions, stating, “Dilip’s death appears suspicious. We suspect foul play, as he may have been aware of the lapses in Hi-Tech Hospital’s implementation of safety measures for its outsourced workers.”

The Refrigeration Association of Odisha has also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the explosion at Hi-Tech Hospital. Association Secretary, Ranjit Kumar Mohapatra, emphasized the need for experts to thoroughly probe the incident and the deaths of the AC technicians. He stated, “To date, no inquiry has been conducted into the explosion or the deaths. The state government must appoint experts to investigate the entire incident meticulously.”

Meanwhile, Ahalya has filed a complaint at Mancheswar police station, alleging that the police and Hi-Tech authorities attempted to suppress the incident and hold them responsible for her son’s death.

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BHUBANESWAR: The tragic consequences of the identity mix up of the victims following the December 29 blast at Hi-Tech medical college and hospital does not seem to end even as it claimed the third life on Friday night. One of the three workers Dilip Samantray – who was initially declared dead and then alive after a week of the incident – also passed away hours after being taken off ventilator and revealing his true identity. He was earlier identified as his co-worker Jyoti Ranjan Mallick by police and hospital officials.</p> <p>The real Jyoti had succumbed on December 31, but as the hospital records showed his name as Dilip, the body was handed over to the latter’s family. Unable to bear the trauma of losing her husband, Dilip’s wife had committed suicide. After regaining consciousness, Dilip was reportedly upset over the identity mix-up with Jyoti. He was agitated as his and Jyoti’s family members continued to confront each other throughout Friday over his identity, said sources.</p> <p>He reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday night and succumbed. “Dilip was put on ventilator and cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)  was performed on him. Despite all efforts to save him, he succumbed at about 3 am,” said Hi-Tech Hospital’s CEO, Dr Smita Padhi.</p> <p>Meanwhile, struggling to recover from the serious goof-up, police have decided to conduct a DNA test before handing over the body to his family members. “Dilip’s body will be preserved at AIIMS for DNA test. Due to legal complications, his body will be handed over to his family only after receiving the DNA test report,” said a senior police officer.</p> <p>However, the man’s family have been left completely shattered by his demise for the second time in a week. His mother Ahalya, who had rushed to the hospital after receiving the news of her son being alive, and spent the entire night under a tree on the hospital’s premises in the cold in his wait. But, she received the news of his demise again.</p> <p>“I had promised to donate a bell at Somnath Temple in Jatni’s Harirajpur after learning my son was alive. My prayers had been answered. But, I have no reason to live now as my son and daughter in-law have both left me,” the disconsolate mother said.</p> <p>People of Dilip’s village, however, have not been convinced about the reasons given by the hospital for his <a href="https://countylocalnews.com/">death</a>. They alleged the hospital authorities and police were hand-in-glove to suppress the matter. “Dilip’s <a href="https://countylocalnews.com/">death</a> seems suspicious. We suspect foul play as he could have possibly revealed about the lapses of Hi-Tech Hospital in implementing safety measures for its outsourced workers”, Sashikanta said.</p> <p>The Refrigeration Association of Odisha has also demanded a thorough inquiry into the explosion at Hi-Tech Hospital. “So far, no inquiry has been conducted into the explosion or the deaths of the AC technicians. The state government must appoint experts to probe the entire incident thoroughly,”  association secretary Ranjit Kumar Mohapatra said.Meanwhile, Ahalya has lodged a complaint at Mancheswar police station alleging police and Hi-Tech authorities tried to suppress the incident and are responsible for her son’s <a href="https://countylocalnews.com/">death</a>.