AMRI hospital’s six directors are likely to be produced before a Kolkata court on Saturday for charges including negligence which has been taken against the hospital. This is consequent to the tragedy that occurred at the hospital on Friday which claimed the life of as many as 90 lives. The private hospital, situated in South Kolkata, is said to have turned a deaf ear to the warnings given by the fire department regarding the inadequacy of the fire safety mechanism at the hospital. Sources say that this disaster could have been avoided if they had taken heed of such warnings.

The fire had started at the basement of the hospital as early as 1 am in the morning and the relatives of the victims alleged that the hospital authorities knew about the fire although the first fire tender reached the spot only at 4:45 am.

The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the hospital staff had initially prevented the fire-fighters from entering the hospital was a shocking admission and that it has caused immense resentment amongst the families of the victims who were killed in the fire. Ms. Banerjee ordered the arrest of the six directors and cases of culpable homicide and negligence has already been registered against theses six.

In addition to the cases registered against the Directors, the hospitals license has also been revoked and the building sealed.

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his condolences to the families of the victims consumed by fire and has declared a compensation of 2 lakhs to them.

It is doleful to note that the AMRI Hospital which was co-founded by the Emami and Shrachi Groups along with the West Bengal government in 1996 was once rated as amongst India’s best hospitals.

Kolkata fire: AMRI hospital directors to be produced before Court

Report by Radhalakshmi R