Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi this morning to express deep condolences and assure full central support following a devastating fire at the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack that claimed the lives of at least 10 critically ill patients and injured several hospital staff members.
The blaze erupted in the early hours between 2:30 am and 3:00 am on March 16, believed to have been triggered by a suspected short circuit. Thick smoke rapidly filled the ICU, where vulnerable patients were receiving treatment, leading to chaos during evacuation efforts. Eleven hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while heroically attempting to rescue those trapped inside.
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Chief Minister Majhi, who rushed to the site along with Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, personally oversaw relief operations and later briefed the Prime Minister on the situation.
ALSO READ: Tragic Fire at Odisha’s SCB Medical College Hospital Claims 10 Lives in Midnight ICU Blaze
In his update, Majhi detailed the swift evacuation of remaining patients, provision of specialised medical care for the injured, and the announcement of ₹25 lakh ex-gratia compensation to the families of each deceased patient. He also confirmed that a high-level judicial probe has been ordered to investigate the cause and any potential lapses in fire safety protocols.
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
President Droupadi Murmu expressed profound grief over the incident and joined Members of Parliament in observing a minute of silence during a breakfast gathering at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre as a mark of solidarity with the bereaved families.
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The SCB Medical College and Hospital, one of Odisha’s premier government-run healthcare facilities, serves a large number of critical and trauma cases from across the state. The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stringent enforcement of fire safety norms in medical institutions and better emergency preparedness.
