A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Monday in the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 patients.
The blaze, which erupted between 2:30 am and 3:00 am, triggered widespread panic in the hospital premises, one of Odisha’s largest state-run medical institutions.
According to officials, the fire originated in the Trauma Care department’s ICU, where critically ill patients, including around 23 admitted at the time, were receiving treatment. Preliminary assessments point to a suspected electrical short circuit as the cause, though a detailed inquiry has been ordered.
Firefighters, hospital staff, police, and patient attendants swiftly launched rescue operations. Patients were evacuated and shifted to other departments and wards to prevent further losses. Tragically, seven patients reportedly succumbed inside the ICU, while three more died during the evacuation and subsequent treatment. At least 11 hospital staff members sustained burn injuries while bravely assisting in the rescue efforts, with some reported in critical condition.
The deceased patients are identified as Ramesh Chandra Parida, Dasru Munda, Md Nyum, Gouranga Chandra Barik, Sk Abdul Satar, Madhusudan Dalai, Krushna Chandra Biswal, Rabindra Das, Cheru Parida and Menaka Rout.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accompanied by Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, rushed to the hospital soon after the incident to assess the situation firsthand and meet with the injured patients and affected families. Expressing profound grief, the Chief Minister directed authorities to provide immediate and proper medical care to all those injured.
“I have directed the concerned officers for proper treatment of the injured patients,” CM Majhi said. He announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased patient. A thorough probe, including a potential judicial inquiry, has been ordered to determine the exact cause and prevent future tragedies.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଏସ.ସି.ବି ମେଡିକାଲ ଟ୍ରମା କେୟାର୍ ଆଇ.ସି.ୟୁରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଦୁଃଖଦ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡ ଘଟଣା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜାଣି ଗଭୀର ଦୁଃଖ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ସହିତ ଘଟଣାସ୍ଥଳ ପରିଦର୍ଶନ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଏଥିସହ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡ ଯୋଗୁଁ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଥିବା ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ…
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) March 16, 2026
Former Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik expressed deep sorrow in a post on X (formerly Twitter), offering condolences to the bereaved families and urging the state government to provide top-tier treatment to the injured. He also instructed local BJD leaders, including the Cuttack Mayor and Tangi-Chowdwar MLA, to reach the site and extend immediate assistance.
କଟକ ଏସସିବି ମେଡିକାଲରେ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡ ଘଟି ଏକାଧିକ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ହେବା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖଦାୟକ।
ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।
ଏଥିସହ ଅଗ୍ନିକାଣ୍ଡରେ ଗୁରୁତର ଆହତ ହୋଇଥିବା ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଆଶୁଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି। ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାର…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 16, 2026
President Droupadi Murmu reacted with deep sorrow to the incident. In her post on X, she wrote, “Deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”
Deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 16, 2026
