India, March 17 -- The Odisha government lost little time in announcing a judicial probe into the fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital on Monday that killed 12 and left 14 with serious injuries, along with compensation for their families. Given that the hospital is run by the state government, it must now enable the single-member (a district judge) commission that's been appointed, to conduct a thorough probe that reveals all points of failure so that those responsible for the fire are brought to book.

The tragedy is a telling indictment of the poor upkeep of the state's oldest hospital (established in 1944.) A facility this old is sure to have serious deficiencies in terms of modern safety standards. The 2019 decision to upgrade the...