10 patients killed after massive fire at trauma care unit in Odisha hospital

The fire is believed to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit that started at around 2.59 am on the first floor of the trauma care building.

Published on: Mar 17, 2026, 07:26:04 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Ten trauma patients were killed and 16 injured, including five patients,on Monday after a fire broke out in the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) of the Odisha government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has subsequently announced a judicial probe into the matter.

Relatives of fire victims gather outside the trauma care centre at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. (AFP)

According to officials familiar with the matter, the fire is believed to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit that started at around 2.59 am on the first floor of the trauma care building, where critically ill patients were undergoing treatment, many on ventilator and oxygen support.

Also Read: Odisha hospital fire: Sprinkler valve, fire alarm were shut, finds probe

“A total of 23 patients were admitted to the ICU. Seven of them died inside the ward before rescue operations could reach them, while three others died later during treatment,” chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi told reporters after visiting the hospital. He subsequently declared an ex gratia payment of ₹25 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the next of kin of each of the deceased.

Ordering a judicial probe into the tragedy, Majhi said: “I have directed the Fire Service DG to personally visit SCB Medical College and Hospital and ensure fire compliance.” An official said that around 11 hospital staff members sustained burn injuries while rescuing patients to safety, and five patients and two hospital workers rescued from the ICU remain under observation.

Condoling the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF and ₹50,000 for the injured. President Droupadi Murmu, vice-president C P Radhakrishnan and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also expressed deep distress.

According to police commissioner Devdutt Singh, the hospital has an in-house fire unit that responded immediately after the blaze was detected. Firefighters deployed at least three fire tenders and more than 30 personnel to contain the flames. Officials said it took a couple of hours to douse the fire. A senior fire service official, who was present on the spot, said rescue efforts were complicated by thick smoke inside the ICU and the fragile condition of the patients, many of whom were dependent on advanced life-support systems.

DG (fire services) Sudhansu Sarangi said fire safety audit was conducted more than a year ago and several measures were suggested to the hospital. “As the building was constructed several decades ago, we had suggested making it fire-safety compliant. Meanwhile, the department was supposed to be shifted to a new building from June this year that has already been constructed.”

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

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