Bhandara hospital fire: Markets, shops shut in district over bandh call

BJP MP from Bhandara, Sunil Mendhe, on Sunday said his party wanted either a judicial inquiry or a probe by a retired judge into the Saturday's incident in which 10 infants were killed in a blaze at the district hospital.

Markets and other commercial establishments in most parts of Bhandara remained closed on Monday in response to a bandh called the BJP to express anguish over the death of 10 infants in a fire at the district hospital.

Police personnel guard outside the Bhandara district General Hospital after a fire broke out in its new born babies care unit in the wee hours, in Bhandara district of Maharashtra on Saturday. (PTI Photo )

BJP workers took out a bike rally in the Maharashtra district, appealing to people to keep their establishments closed and support the bandh.

BJP MP from Bhandara, Sunil Mendhe, on Sunday said his party wanted either a judicial inquiry or a probe by a retired judge into the Saturday's incident in which 10 infants were killed in a blaze at the district hospital.

Medhe said they also want a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the bereaved families.

Referring to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's visit to the hospital earlier on Sunday, the MP had said they expected that he would immediately suspend the civil surgeon, doctors and other staff and order a detailed inquiry, but nothing happened.

The BJP has taken a decision to call a bandh in Bhandara on Monday to draw the attention of the government, he said.