President Droupadi Murmu on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire incident at the Trauma Care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, which claimed multiple lives.
In a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said she was deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the hospital fire and extended her heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. She also wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the incident.
“Deeply distressed by the loss of lives in the tragic fire incident at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” President Murmu said.
PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia Assistance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also described the incident as “painful” and expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (India), an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased person, while ₹50,000 will be given to those injured.
Amit Shah Calls Incident Extremely Painful
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reacted to the tragedy, calling it “extremely painful”. In a post on social media, he conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and said the loss of life in such an unfortunate event was deeply distressing.
He noted that the Odisha government is actively engaged in relief and rescue operations and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.
10 Dead In ICU Fire
The devastating fire broke out at the Trauma Care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital late Monday night, resulting in the death of 10 patients. At least 11 hospital staff members were injured during the rescue operations.
According to local corporator Deepak Kumar Das, the incident occurred between 2:00 am and 2:30 am. He said information about the fire reached him around 3:00 am, after which he rushed to the hospital.
Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, possibly linked to an air-conditioning unit, although the exact cause will be determined after a detailed investigation.
Odisha CM Announces Compensation
Following the incident, Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, visited the hospital and expressed deep grief over the tragedy. He directed officials to ensure the safe relocation and treatment of all patients affected by the fire.
The Chief Minister also announced ₹25 lakh compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the families of each deceased patient and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The tragedy has raised serious concerns about fire safety measures in hospitals, particularly in critical care units where patients are often dependent on life-support equipment.
