Ruckus in Odisha Assembly over demand for Health Minister’s resignation following hospital fire
The Hindu
Opposition demands Odisha Health Minister's resignation amid assembly chaos over hospital fire that killed 12 patients.
The proceedings of the Odisha Assembly were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Friday (March 20, 2026), following frequent adjournments as the Opposition BJD and Congress demanded resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling over the fire incident in a hospital that left 12 patients dead.
The House witnessed noisy scenes from the very beginning when it assembled for the Question Hour at 10.30 a.m..
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Holding placards and shouting anti-government slogans, the Opposition members trooped into the well of the House and demanded the resignation of the Minister, holding the State government responsible for the death of 12 patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The fire incident took place at the trauma care ICU of the premier government hospital early on March 16.
The agitating members attempted to climb the Speaker’s podium and were prevented by the marshals. Opposition MLAs raised slogans like “Ram Naam Satya Hai” and “(CM) Mohan Majhi Hai Hai” when Speaker Surama Padhy allowed School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond to reply to certain questions.
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