AMRI hospital fire: Investigations on, Mamata Banerjee calls for preventive steps

KOLKATA: Investigations into the devastating AMRI Hospital fire were in progress by a Special Investigation Team of the Kolkata Police with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today calling for steps to prevent recurrence of such disasters.

"Investigations are in progress. SIT is investigating. The law will be strictly implemented," Kolkata Police Commissioner R K Pachnanda told reporters on the sidelines of a programme at the Rabindra Sarobar here to pay tributes to the victims.

Speaking at the programme, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I don't want to remember that fateful day's incident. We have to take steps to prevent such an incident which took so many lives."

Lamenting the death of 93 people in the mishap at the private hospital in south Kolkata's Dhakuria, Banerjee said, "As a member of their families, we stand beside them. We have promised to provide one job to a family member of each victim.

"The state government will pay compensation of Rs three lakh to the families of each victim, besides another Rs two lakh to be given by the Centre."

The chief minister praised the locals, besides health and police officers who rushed to rescue the patients who were trapped inside the hospital building during the fire.

A team of forensic experts and another from the detective department also visited the hospital during the day.