A tragic fire broke out in the early hours of Monday at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Trauma Care department at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, claiming the lives of at least 10 patients and leaving 11 hospital staff members injured. The incident occurred at one of the largest government-run medical facilities in the state, where critically ill patients were undergoing treatment at the time of the fire.
According to officials, the blaze erupted between 2:30 am and 3:00 am, creating panic inside the ICU ward. Thick smoke quickly spread through the unit, forcing doctors, nurses, and hospital attendants to act immediately to evacuate patients. Authorities suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, although a detailed investigation has been ordered to confirm the exact cause.
Hospital staff members, along with fire service personnel and police officials, launched a rapid rescue operation. Despite the dangerous conditions, doctors and nurses rushed into the smoke-filled ward to move patients to safer areas. During the rescue efforts, around 23 patients were shifted from the ICU to other departments and wards within the hospital.
Officials said that seven critically ill patients died while being shifted to other ICUs and wards during the evacuation process. Three more patients later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment, taking the death toll to ten. Meanwhile, at least eleven hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while trying to rescue patients trapped inside the ICU.
Fire service teams rushed to the hospital immediately after receiving information about the blaze. Several fire tenders were deployed at the scene, and firefighters managed to control the flames after an intensive operation. Police officials and hospital authorities also assisted in evacuating patients and securing the area to prevent further damage.
Soon after the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited SCB Medical College and Hospital along with Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling to review the situation. The Chief Minister interacted with doctors, officials, and patients receiving treatment after the incident.
Speaking to the media, Majhi said that the fire appears to have been caused by a suspected electrical short circuit, which affected the Trauma Care ICU and nearby wards. He assured that the government would conduct a detailed investigation into the incident to determine whether there were any lapses in safety measures.
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The state government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased patient. The Chief Minister also directed hospital authorities and health officials to ensure proper medical treatment for those injured in the incident.
The tragedy has raised fresh concerns about fire safety systems in major government hospitals, especially in critical care areas where patients rely on life-saving equipment. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough safety audit of the hospital infrastructure in the coming days to prevent such incidents in the future.