Odisha hospital fire: Toll rises to 12 as 2 more patients die

The blaze broke out around 2.30am on Monday in the hospital’s trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where 23 patients were admitted in two rooms

Updated on: Mar 17, 2026, 11:00:53 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The toll from the fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack rose to 12 after an 11-year-old girl and a 45-year-old man died on Tuesday.

Relatives of the victims alleged lapses in safety measures and delays in emergency response. (AFP)

The blaze broke out around 2.30am on Monday in the hospital’s trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where 23 patients were admitted in two rooms. Many of the victims were critically ill and asleep when the fire started, leaving little time to escape. Seven patients died on the spot, and three others while being shifted. Three of the patients who suffered burn injuries were said to be serious.

Relatives of the victims alleged lapses in safety measures and delays in emergency response, saying firefighters reached the hospital about an hour after the blaze.

Officials said the ICU’s automatic sprinkler system failed to activate as its control valve had been left closed while the fire alarm system was switched off. A preliminary probe found that the fire originated from two of the ventilators.

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a judicial inquiry under retired district judge Laxmidhar Biswal to determine the cause of the fire, identify any lapses in safety or response, and submit a report within 60 days.

The state government has also formed a development commissioner DK Singh-led six-member committee to investigate the cause of the fire and submit its findings by Tuesday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.