At least 10 patients died after a fire broke out in the trauma care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha early on Monday (March 16). The blaze erupted around 2:30–3:00 am on the first floor of the trauma care unit while 23 patients were undergoing treatment.
Firefighters, hospital staff, and emergency responders rushed to evacuate patients and bring the flames under control, but officials confirmed that seven patients died during evacuation while three others succumbed soon after being shifted to other wards. Five patients remain in critical condition.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the hospital shortly after the incident, ordered a judicial probe into the tragedy, and announced ₹25 lakh compensation for the families of those who died. Authorities suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, though investigations are ongoing.
Night-Time Blaze Triggers Chaotic Rescue Efforts
According to officials, the fire broke out inside the trauma care ICU an area that houses some of the hospital’s most critically ill patients. Within minutes, smoke spread across the ward, forcing hospital personnel and emergency teams to rush patients out of the affected unit. At least three fire tenders and more than 30 firefighters were deployed to contain the flames and assist in rescue operations.
Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh confirmed that several patients succumbed during the chaotic evacuation. “Seven serious patients died while shifting to other ICUs and wards, while three died later,” he said while detailing the sequence of events following the blaze.
Several hospital staff members were also injured while trying to save patients trapped inside the ICU. Reports indicate that some staff suffered burn injuries while moving patients and attempting to control the situation before firefighters arrived.
The trauma care ICU housed patients on ventilators and oxygen support, which made the evacuation particularly challenging and time-sensitive. As flames were eventually brought under control, surviving patients were shifted to other wards and neighbouring units for treatment and monitoring.
The hospital administration and fire services personnel later began assessing the extent of the damage and verifying the cause of the incident. Initial reports point to a possible electrical short circuit, though authorities said the exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation.
Safety Concerns Surface At One Of Odisha’s Largest Hospitals
The tragedy has raised serious concerns about safety preparedness in government hospitals. SCB Medical College and Hospital is one of the largest public healthcare institutions in eastern India and treats thousands of patients from across Odisha and neighbouring states every day. As a major referral hospital, it plays a critical role in emergency and trauma care in the region.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Majhi directed officials to conduct a thorough judicial probe and ordered a review of fire safety measures across government hospitals in the state. Authorities are expected to examine whether safety protocols, electrical infrastructure, staffing levels, and emergency evacuation procedures were adequate in the trauma care unit at the time of the fire.
The incident has also revived concerns about hospital management and monitoring inside critical care wards. Just last month, the hospital administration had ordered an inquiry after a viral video showed a patient falling from a bed inside the ICU, raising questions about supervision and staff presence in critical care areas. That episode had already prompted administrative changes and stricter monitoring measures, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of patient safety practices within the institution.
Public health experts say the latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger fire safety compliance in healthcare facilities, particularly in high-risk areas like ICUs where patients are immobile and dependent on life-support equipment. Even a brief delay in evacuation during such emergencies can prove fatal for patients who cannot move independently.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The deaths of critically ill patients inside a hospital an institution meant to protect and heal are deeply distressing. This tragedy highlights the urgent need to strengthen fire safety infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and accountability across healthcare institutions in India. Hospitals must ensure regular electrical audits, functioning fire alarms and suppression systems, adequate staffing, and routine evacuation drills so that staff are prepared to respond instantly in emergencies.
At the same time, the courage shown by doctors, nurses, and hospital workers who risked their lives to rescue patients deserves recognition. Yet compassion and bravery cannot substitute for systemic safeguards. A tragedy of this scale should not only lead to compensation for victims’ families but also trigger meaningful reforms that prevent such incidents from happening again.
