Sambalpur, April 12: A probe began today into the death of three women at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla on Friday night.

"The medical team has started investigations into the deaths. They will submit a detailed report to the health secretary within two days. I have also asked the superintendent of the hospital to conduct an inquiry by an internal team of the institute. The internal team will begin the probe tomorrow and submit the report to the director of the institute," said Dash.

The team, which is headed by director of medical education and training B.C. Dash, includes joint director of medical education and training Umakanta Satpathy, associate professor of SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Sujata Mishra and director of health Chittaranjan Naik.

A massive controversy has broken out over the deaths of three women at the institute, following Caesarean section deliveries.

The deaths took place five hours after the surgery. The surgery of Sulochana Pradhan, 26, of Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, Kalpana Mahakur, 27, of Banjibahali in Bargarh district and Kasturi Seth, 25, of Sialkhandata in Bargarh district took place between 4.30pm to 5pm on Friday. However, all the three women died between 10.30pm and 11pm on that very day.

Residents of the city and members of the Congress and the BJP took on the director of the institute, Sunamali Bag, and demanded a proper inquiry into the matter.