250 AMRI staff members quit

Around 250 staff members of Kolkata’s Advanced Medicare Research Institute (AMRI), where 93 people were killed in a blaze last week, have resigned en masse citing “security reasons”.

Around 250 staff members of Kolkata’s Advanced Medicare Research Institute (AMRI), where 93 people were killed in a blaze last week, have resigned en masse citing “security reasons”.

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The employees blamed a feeling of insecurity and frustration over the nature of media coverage following the fire in the hospital for quitting. Media reports claimed several doctors and staff fled from the hospital as soon as the fire was detected, leaving ailing patients to die.

“When the fire broke out, many of us were not in our uniforms. But we tried to rescue patients. Many of us who were engaged in rescue operations were identified as local slum dwellers. Media reports projected the entire AMRI staff as villains who left helpless patients to die,” said Shinoj, a hospital attendant.

Most of those who quit are from Kerala.