Ten patients die after overnight fire erupts in intensive care unit of Odisha government hospital in eastern India.
Ten patients have died after a fire broke out in the trauma centre intensive care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, located in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
All the victims were patients receiving treatment at the hospital, while 11 members of staff sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue those trapped inside the facility.
State Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the fire broke out around 02:30 local time on Monday and is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
Emergency responders quickly brought the blaze under control after fire service personnel rushed to the hospital. Patients from the affected intensive care unit and adjoining wards were evacuated and moved to other departments within the hospital.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the facility, Majhi said the fire affected both the trauma care ICU and a neighbouring intensive care unit.
He praised the actions of medical staff and security personnel who participated in the rescue efforts.
“Medical staff and security personnel risked their lives during the rescue operation,” he said, adding that some rescuers were injured and the government had directed authorities to ensure they receive proper medical treatment.
The state government has announced financial compensation for the families of those who died, while Majhi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Authorities said strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for the tragedy.
Hospital fires have occurred repeatedly in India, often linked to electrical faults and overloaded systems.
In October last year, six critically ill patients were killed in an intensive care unit fire in Rajasthan. A separate blaze in 2024 at a neonatal ICU in Jhansi killed at least ten newborn babies.
Earlier incidents include a 2021 ICU fire at Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar, which killed 13 patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19, and another blaze the same year at a newborn care unit in Bhandara District in Maharashtra, where ten infants died.