Cuttack Hospital Tragedy: 10 Dead In SCB Medical College ICU Fire

CUTTACK, ODISHA — A devastating fire ripped through the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack early Monday, March 16, 2026, claiming the lives of 10 critically ill patients. The tragedy has prompted a high-level judicial inquiry and raised serious questions regarding fire safety compliance in aging government infrastructure.

1. The Midnight Blaze & Rescue Efforts

The fire is believed to have originated from an electrical short circuit at approximately 2:59 AM on the first floor of the trauma care building.

• The Victims: At the time of the incident, 23 patients were in the ICU, many of them on ventilators and oxygen support. Seven patients died inside the ward before rescuers could reach them, while three others succumbed later during treatment.
• Heroic Rescue: Around 11 hospital staff members sustained burn injuries while braving thick smoke to pull patients to safety. Currently, five rescued patients and two workers remain under close medical observation.
• Containment: The hospital’s in-house fire unit and 30 personnel from the state fire service battled the flames for over two hours. Rescue efforts were severely hampered by the “fragile condition” of the patients and dense, toxic smoke.

2. Judicial Probe & Safety Lapses

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited the site on Monday, has ordered a judicial probe to determine the exact cause and accountability.

• Safety Audit Findings: Preliminary investigations revealed that the sprinkler valves and fire alarms were shut at the time of the blaze.
• Delayed Modernization: DG (Fire Services) Sudhanshu Sarangi noted that while a fire audit conducted a year ago suggested urgent upgrades, the building was an older structure. The trauma department was scheduled to move to a newly constructed, compliant building in June 2026.

3. Ex-Gratia and Condolences

The government has moved quickly to provide financial assistance to the grieving families:

• State Support: CM Majhi announced ₹25 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
• Central Support: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF.
• National Grief: President Droupadi Murmu and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed deep distress over the tragedy.

Incident Snapshot: SCB Medical College Fire