Cuttack, June 5: The state government has decided to formulate a full-fledged electrical control mechanism to prevent disasters in the wake of the fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital last Tuesday.

According to proposals, a private third-party consultancy firm other than the general electricity department will be roped in to conduct safety assessment and inspection of all electrical wiring and electronic gadgets in hospitals shortly.

In all likelihood, SCB will be the first hospital to be inspected, health and family welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told The Telegraph.

A disaster management cell will also operate at the hospital.

"According to the plans, we will appoint a nodal officer for the disaster management cell who will look after the effective handling of different emergency situations, including fire mishaps," Nayak said.

The dedicated disaster management cell, consisting of officials from the fire service, doctors and the medical college's paramedical staff, will be set up to ensure there is proper co-ordination between officials in taking appropriate measures in case of exigencies.

The state government has swung into action after a fire broke out at SCB's cardiology department on the second floor on May 31. The incident sparked concern among patients and their attendants over the poor fire safety measures at the hospital.

The high court, on June 2, had directed the government to set up a fire sub-station at SCB and two government-run medical colleges and hospitals - VSS Medical College, Burla, and MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur. It had also directed the government to install advanced fire-fighting equipment following the mishap.

Senior SCB officials said they would take concrete steps so that patients and attendants may be evacuated swiftly in case of a disaster.

Official sources said SCB registers a footfall of over 6,000 patients - 3,500 at the out-patient department and 2,500 in indoor wards - daily on an average.

Most departments, including orthopaedics, gynaecology, blood bank, dental and casualty and trauma care centre, do not have adequate emergency routes in case of fire or other exigencies.

SCB officials said they would conduct a survey shortly to assess the ground situation and create multiple emergency exit routes by interlinking various old department buildings.