Bhubaneswar: The Hi-Tech Hospital explosion case in Odisha capital has spiraled into a tale of utter confusion and mental agony for the family members of the victims. A victim, who was previously identified as Dilip Samantray and declared dead during treatment, has been found ‘alive’ as another victim claimed himself as Dilip.
While four persons were injured in the mishap that occurred on December 29, two of them died and two others are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The first deceased, who was earlier identified as Dilip Samantray of Khordha, breathed his last on December 30. However, another person, who was previously identified as Jyoti Ranjan Mallik and currently being treated at the hospital, has claimed that he is Dilip Samantray.
The development has left the family members of Jyoti emotionally devastated as they were earlier convinced that the patient undergoing treatment was Jyoti.
“My son-in-law had initially gone to the hospital. The patient responded when my son-in-law called him ‘Dipuna’ (Jyoti’s nick name). The patient also responded when a doctor called him ‘Jyoti’. Later, we (family members) went to the hospital. As I went near the patient and addressed him as ‘Dipuna’, he said he is ‘Dilip’. I searched for birthmarks on his body to confirm whether he was my son or not. However, I couldn’t find any. As the mask of the ventilator was removed from the patient, I became sure that he was not my son,” said Jyoti’s father.
“The doctor immediately asked the patient his name, to which he answered that he is Dilip Samantray. He also told the name of his family members,” he added.
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“My family members told me that they identified the patient as Jyoti. However, the patient is now identifying himself as Dilip, not Jyoti. I want to know where my husband is,” asked Jyoti’s wife, who was seen crying inconsolably on the hospital premises.
Addressing a press conference, Smita Padhi, CEO, Hi-Tech Hospital, said, “The four persons were workers of an outsourcing agency, not employees of the hospital. After the explosion, a staff of the agency identified them, on the basis of which we maintained the identification record. The kin of the victims also identified them.”
“The person, who was identified as Dilip Samantray, died during treatment on December 30. As per protocol, we informed the police. His family members also signed the concerned documents before receiving the body from police,” she said.
“Yesterday evening, the person, who was undergoing treatment in the name of Jyoti Ranjan Mallik, felt better and started responding. As doctors started having conversation with him, he identified himself as Dilip Samantray. Following the confusion, the doctors informed psychiatrist Amrit Pattojoshi about the matter for evaluation of the patient. On being asked about the names of Dilip Samantray’s family members, the patient answered correctly,” said Padhi.
“Jyoti Ranjan Mallik’s father and brother were attendants of the patient and visiting him daily without any confusion. The patient’s family members had heard and recognized his voice while he was responding during treatment. They were convinced that the person undergoing treatment was their family member Jyoti,” the CEO of the private hospital said.
“We called the family members of the two. However, they couldn’t resolve the issue. Eventually, we lodged a complaint with the Mancheswar police,” she added.
Giving further details about the incident, psychiatrist Amrit Pattojoshi said, “The patient told us details about Dilip Samantray, correctly. Family members of both were present at that time. As a doctor, I am 90 percent sure that the patient is Dilip Samantray. If required, DNA analysis will be done.”
Notably, the blast had taken place during AC gas filling at the hospital.
