Rohan Umak
Cuttack hospital fire: A massive fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack in the early hours of Monday, which ended up claiming the lives of 10 patients. As many as 11 hospital staffers were injured in the incident, and the government ordered a judicial probe into the tragedy. Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Manjhi said that the blaze broke out between 2:30 am and 3 am in the trauma care ICU, where several critically ill patients had been housed for treatment.
Rescue operation launched amid thick smoke
Officials said that 23 patients were lodged in the trauma care ICU and in the adjacent ward, when the untoward incident occurred. Seven patients were charred to death, while three others succumbed to burn injuries or suffocation during evacuation. Amid thick smoke, the firefighters, hospital staff, police personnel and attendants were pressed into service to rescue the patients. Several medical staffers sustained burns while attempting to move patients out of the smoke-stricken ICU. Eyewitnesses said that the ICU was engulfed in dense smoke shortly after power fluctuations were noticed twice. As per initial reports, the blaze seems to have been triggered by a short circuit, though the exact cause behind it will be learnt after a thorough probe.
PM announces Rs 2L compensation, CM declares Rs 25L for kin of deceased
In the aftermath of the incident, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 to the injured, while CM Manjhi announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for the families of each deceased patient. The Chief Minister also took stock of the hospital along with Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and met the injured patients undergoing treatment. He directed the officials to ensure proper medical aid to the injured.
President Dropadi Murmu also mourned the loss of lives in the incident, and extended condolences to the bereaved families, through her official ‘X’ handle.
Check President Murmu’s tweet below:
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
Cuttack hospital fire: Govt orders judicial probe
After the incident, the Odisha government ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, and ordered the Director General of Fire Service to conduct a separate investigation, as well as ensure strict fire safety compliance across government hospitals. Officials said that 5 injured patients are in critical condition at present.
