Massive uproar persisted in the Odisha Assembly as Opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, intensified protests following the Trauma Care ICU fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital on March 16, resulting in 12 fatalities and numerous severe burn injuries. Opposition members, donning black T-shirts with slogans like ‘Weak Chief Minister,’ protested during Question Hour by displaying banners and shouting anti-government slogans. Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned proceedings multiple times due to disruptions caused by protesting legislators, who also held a rally outside the Assembly building.
Amid the chaos, Speaker Padhy called for an all-party meeting in an attempt to resolve the deadlock. The Opposition demanded a comprehensive statement from the Chief Minister regarding the incident, the resignation of the Health Minister, and strict action against the former Superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital. BJD leader Goutam Buddha Das criticized the Chief Minister’s response to the tragedy, labeling him as the weakest in Odisha’s history, while Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik challenged the Chief Minister to act against the Health Minister to dispel notions of weakness.
Senior Congress leader CS Raazen Ekka blamed the BJP-led government for the fire tragedy at SCB Medical College and Hospital, holding the Health Minister accountable. Ekka accused the Chief Minister of being feeble and compromised, demanding Rs 1 crore ex-gratia for the families of the deceased patients. Opposition members continued their protests, emphasizing the need for accountability and swift action in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
