Odisha's Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling over the death of 12 people in the fire at the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Patnaik, who visited the hospital following the incident on Monday, raised the issue in the assembly during the Zero Hour. "He (minister) must take moral responsibility for this catastrophic lapse in safety oversight," the former CM said. "What I witnessed was not just a scene of a tragic accident, but a stark reminder of the crumbling safety standards in our state's premier healthcare institution," he added. Patnaik said the deceased were patients who came to the hospital with the hope of recovery, only to meet a horrific end due to "administrative negligence". "The Health Department cannot hide behind inquiries while families mourn. A judicial enquiry is welcome, but it does not absolve the political leadership of its responsibility," he said. Claiming that th