Devastating fire kills at least 10 ICU patients at Cuttack hospital

A devastating fire broke out at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, during the early hours of Monday, claiming the lives of at least 10 patients. The blaze erupted around 3:00 AM in the Trauma Care ICU located on the first floor of the Medicine Department building. Thick smoke quickly engulfed the ward, where several critically ill patients were on life support, making the rescue operation exceptionally difficult for hospital staff and fire tenders who arrived shortly after the alarm was raised.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who rushed to the site to oversee the situation, confirmed that 23 patients were admitted to the ward at the time of the incident. According to the Chief Minister, seven patients died inside the ward before they could be evacuated, while three others succumbed to smoke inhalation and injuries shortly after being rescued. Additionally, five patients and two hospital staff members sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing intensive treatment in the New Medicine ICU.

The state government has taken a serious view of the tragedy, with Chief Minister Majhi announcing an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh for the families of the deceased. High-ranking officials, including the Health Secretary, Cuttack Collector, and the DCP, remained on-site to coordinate the transfer of survivors and ensure medical care for the injured. Initial assessments suggest that an electrical short circuit in either the air conditioning system or a medical device triggered the fire, leading to the rapid spread of smoke in the enclosed unit.