SCB gas leak enquiry report submitted to Odisha govt

Cuttack: The enquiry report pertaining to last week s chlorine gas leak in SCB Medical College and Hospital campus, in which more than 40 people were taken ill, was today submitted to the Odisha Government.

Cuttack collector Sushant Mohapatra had formed a six-member team headed by ADM Raghuram Aiyer to probe into the incident in which over 40 persons, including medical college students and fire brigade personnel, were taken ill after coming in contact with the pungent gas.

The report was submitted to the secretary of Urban Development department, the collector said.

He added that the report was very exhaustive covering all aspects of the terms of reference.

The terms of reference were to find out the cause of the gas leak, health hazard or human casualty if any, laxity on any government official and responsibility to be fixed thereon and measures to arrest any such incidents in future.

Although the findings of the report has not been made public yet, sources said the enquiry team has found laxity on the part of public health department (PHD) staff in storing the gas cylinders for over five years without maintenance.

"Accordingly, responsibility has been fixed on the erring staff and the government has been requested to take appropriate action against them as per law," the sources said.

Read also: Chlorine gas leak at SCB medical college campus, 40 ill