Odisha: Ten killed in trauma centre ICU fire in Cuttack A fire at the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, resulted in the deaths of ten patients, while eleven hospital staff sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue them. The incident occurred around 02:30 local time on Monday (21:00 GMT Sunday), with officials attributing the blaze to an electrical short circuit. State Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that all fatalities were patients, and the injured staff members are receiving treatment for burns. The fire broke out in the trauma care ICU of the government-run hospital, which is one of the largest medical facilities in Odisha. Fire service personnel arrived swiftly to contain the blaze, and patients were relocated to other departments within the same hospital. Majhi stated that medical staff and security personnel "risked their lives" during the rescue operation, with some sustaining injuries. He emphasized that the government has directed authorities to ensure proper medical care for those affected. Majhi also announced financial compensation for the families of the victims and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible for the fire. The state government’s response highlights ongoing concerns about hospital safety in India, where electrical faults are a frequent cause of such tragedies. Hospital fires in India have historically led to severe casualties, with many incidents linked to electrical malfunctions. For example, in October 2023, an ICU fire in Rajasthan killed six critically ill patients.#odisha #scb_medical_college_and_hospital #cuttack #mohan_charan_majhi #icu_fire
