NEW DELHI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Indian police have arrested four people, including a doctor over a deadly hospital fire in India's eastern state of Odisha, officials said Wednesday.
On Monday evening a fire inside a hospital in Bhubaneswar city killed 22 and left over 100 injured.
"Police have arrested four hospital staff on charges of negligence in conduct and safety. These include hospital medical superintendent, fire safety officer and two electrical division workers," a senior official in Bhubaneswar said.
"Government has filed two criminal cases alleging negligence in conduct and safety against the hospital and initiated administrative inquiries into the mishap."
The fire began in the intensive care unit of the privately-run hospital and swept all the four floors of the building.
Though authorities are investigating the cause of fire, however preliminary reports suggest fire triggered from an electrical short circuit.
Police officials said the arrested have been charged with "homicide not amounting to murder" and "negligence".
Reports said of the injured who suffered burns in the fire, the condition of some was stated to be critical.
Odisha's rights panel -- Odisha Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the fire and issued notices to the government over the issue.
Chances of fire in India are usually high as people usually ignore safety standards vis-a-vis fire and store fuel and combustible materials in a haphazard manner.
