10 Patients Die in Odisha Hospital ICU Fire

At least 10 patients died and 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out in the trauma care intensive care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, in the early hours of Monday.

The blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. in the ICU on the first floor of the hospital's casualty department building, where 23 critically ill patients were receiving treatment, including ventilator and oxygen support. Officials believe the fire started due to an electrical short circuit, possibly in the air conditioning system or medical equipment, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Thick smoke quickly filled the ward, complicating evacuation efforts for the vulnerable patients.

Fire services responded promptly, with three fire tenders and more than 30 personnel arriving at the scene. They battled the flames for about 30 minutes to bring the situation under control. Hospital staff, along with police and patient attendants, worked to rescue and shift the 23 patients to other departments and ICUs within the facility. Seven patients died during the fire or while being moved, and three others succumbed to burns or suffocation shortly afterward. No...