Odisha assembly disrupted over hospital fire; BJD demands minister’s resignation

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo alleged a complete collapse of the healthcare system, stating that the department had been in a “coma” and had now “died”.

Published on: Mar 18, 2026, 17:01:25 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Odisha legislative assembly witnessed tumultuous scenes on Wednesday as members of the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) disrupted the Question Hour, demanding the resignation of state health minister Mukesh Mahaling over the recent fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital that claimed 12 lives.

BJD MLAs stage a protest against the state health department during the budget session of the Odisha assembly on Wednesday. (PTI)

Escalating their protest, BJD MLAs carried a symbolic bier within the assembly premises and raised chants of “Ram Nam Satya Hai” to signify the “death” of the health department. Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned proceedings first till 11.30am and later till 4pm.

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo alleged a complete collapse of the healthcare system, stating that the department had been in a “coma” and had now “died”. He further claimed that the department had ceased to function and that there was a breakdown of justice in the state.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, accusing the Opposition of politicising the tragedy. BJP MLA Manas Dutta termed the incident unfortunate and said Chief Minister Mohan Majhi had already ordered a judicial inquiry, while Health Minister Mahaling had made a statement in the House.

A day earlier, leader of opposition and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who had visited the hospital after the incident, had sought the minister’s resignation. Calling the fire not merely an accident but a reflection of “crumbling safety standards” at a premier state-run hospital, he alleged that administrative negligence led to the deaths of patients who had come seeking treatment. While welcoming a judicial probe, Patnaik said it did not absolve the political leadership of responsibility.

Leader of the Congress in the House, Ramachandra Kadam, also demanded the minister’s resignation, stating that condolences alone were insufficient and the government must be held accountable for ensuring patient safety.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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