Commission on SCB fire gets 2 more months to finish probe

BHUBANESWAR: The state govt has extended by two months the tenure of the ju-dicial commission investi-gating the fire at the trau-ma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which left 12 pati-ents dead on March 16. The commission of reti red district judge Laxmid-har Biswal was constituted on March 16 with a two-month deadline to submit its findings. Its initial tenu-reended on May 15. A notification from the home de partment stated, "It is felt necessary to extend the te- nure of the commission till July 15." Govt sources said the ex-tension was required to al-low the panel sufficient time to conduct a comprehensive inquiry, including hearing a wide range of people connected to the tragedy. The commission began its probe with a visit to the SCB hospital on April 13 when Judge Biswal also inspected the trauma care ICU. Officials said that the panel had requested more time as it was not able to cover all aspects of the investigation. The commission's man-date includes examining the sequence of events and other things.