Odisha: At least ten people were killed after a fire broke out in the trauma centre of a government hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
All the victims were patients at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where the blaze reportedly began in the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) at around 02:30 local time. According to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, 11 hospital staff members suffered burns while attempting to rescue patients and are currently receiving treatment.
Officials suspect the fire was triggered by an electrical short circuit. Fire service teams rushed to the hospital and brought the blaze under control, while patients from the affected ICU and nearby wards were shifted to other departments within the same facility.
କଟକ ଏସସିବି ମେଡିକାଲ କଲେଜରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଅଭାବନୀୟ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଜୀ ମୋ ସହ ଟେଲିଫୋନ ଯୋଗେ କଥା ହୋଇ ବିସ୍ତୃତ ଆଲୋଚନା କରିଛନ୍ତି । ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରଭାବିତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ଜରୁରୀକାଳୀନ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ, ସ୍ଥାନାନ୍ତର ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯୋଗାଇ ଦିଆଯାଉଥିବା…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) March 16, 2026
After visiting the hospital, Majhi said medical staff and security personnel risked their lives during the rescue operation and assured that proper treatment would be provided to those injured. The state government has also announced financial compensation for the families of the victims and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Majhi said strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible.
Hospital fires are reported frequently across India, often linked to electrical faults and the heavy use of equipment such as oxygen systems and life-support machines. In recent years, several similar tragedies have occurred, including a neonatal ICU fire in Jhansi in 2024 that killed at least ten newborns and a 2021 blaze at a hospital in Virar that killed 13 Covid-19 patients.
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