KL Govt Orders Probe Into Death of 5 Due to Suspected Smoke in Hospital

Exact cause can be ascertained only after electrical inspectorate completes probe: Pinarayi

- KOZHIKODE/NEW DELHI

KERALA government on Saturday ordered a multi-agency probe into the smoke incident reported at the government medical college hospital here which led to the emergency evacuation of several patients and bystanders. Five deaths were reported among patients who were evacuated from the emergency department on Friday, prompting the Congress and the BJP to link the fatalities to the smoke.

Addressing the media in Kozhikode, state Health Minister Veena George said it was not yet clear whether the deaths were related to the smoke incident. The smoke reportedly originated from the UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) room at the hospital, leading to the emergency evacuation of patients and bystanders.