Hospital Fire in Odisha Kills 10 Patients in Trauma Care Unit, Probe Ordered

At least 10 people have died after a fire broke out in the trauma care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, located in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, authorities said.

The blaze erupted early Monday on the first floor of the hospital and is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, according to Mohan Charan Majhi, the chief minister of Odisha, who visited the facility after the incident.

Majhi praised medical workers and security personnel who rushed to rescue patients from the intensive care unit as the fire spread.

“Medical staff and security personnel risked their lives in rescuing the patients,” he said. “During this, they too sustained injuries, and they are currently receiving treatment.”

At least 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while attempting to evacuate patients from the affected ward.

Officials said 23 patients were receiving treatment in the trauma intensive care unit when the fire broke out. Ten of them died while being transferred to safer areas away from the flames and smoke.

Five other patients were left critically injured, though it was not immediately clear whether their condition resulted from the fire itself or from pre-existing injuries.

The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the disaster, with Majhi promising strict action against anyone found responsible for safety lapses.

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, described the incident as “deeply painful” in a social media post and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Modi also announced financial compensation of approximately $2,160 for affected families.

Hospital and building fires remain a recurring problem across India, often linked to inadequate firefighting infrastructure and poor enforcement of safety regulations. Electrical short circuits, frequently caused by aging or poorly maintained wiring, continue to be one of the leading causes of such disasters.

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