A major fire broke out in the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, triggering panic inside the critical care facility and leading to a large-scale emergency response. Several critically ill patients admitted to the ward were evacuated immediately as hospital staff and emergency teams rushed to control the situation.
According to initial reports, the blaze started inside the Trauma Care ICU, forcing authorities to shift patients to other units within the hospital. At the time of the incident, 23 patients were admitted to the ICU, and many were in critical condition, making the evacuation process extremely challenging.
Rescue Efforts And Fire Control
Hospital staff, along with fire brigade personnel, acted quickly to rescue patients and bring the fire under control. Firefighters were deployed to the hospital soon after the incident was reported and worked to contain the flames before they could spread to other sections of the building.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, though early indications suggest it may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
Chief Minister Visits Hospital
Following the incident, Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, visited the hospital to assess the situation. He inspected the affected area and held discussions with officials present at the site, including the police commissioner and the state health secretary.
After reviewing the situation, the Chief Minister confirmed that 10 patients had died during the incident. According to officials, the deaths occurred while patients were being shifted from the affected ICU to other treatment units within the hospital.
Compensation And Judicial Probe Ordered
The Chief Minister announced an ex gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased patient. He also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and identify any lapses in safety measures.
Authorities stated that strict action will be taken once the investigation report is submitted.
Identities Of The Deceased
Officials confirmed the identities of the ten patients who lost their lives in the tragedy:
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Ramesh Chandra Parida
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Dasharu Munda
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MD Nayum
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Gauranga Chandra Barik
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S.K. Abdul Satar
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Madhusudan Dalai
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Krushnachandra Biswal
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Rabindra Das
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Cheru Parida
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Menaka Raut
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety protocols in hospitals, especially in critical care units where patients are often dependent on life-support systems.
