The fire erupted around 2:30 am in the hospital in Cuttack, filling the ward with thick smoke and triggering panic as medical teams rushed to evacuate patients on ventilators and oxygen support.
BY PC Bureau
March 16, 2026: A devastating fire broke out early Monday at the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital, leaving 10 patients dead and at least 11 hospital staff members injured, officials said.
The blaze erupted between around 2:30 am and 3:00 am inside the trauma care ICU, where several critically ill patients were undergoing treatment, many of them on ventilators and oxygen support. Thick smoke quickly filled the ward, triggering panic and complicating evacuation efforts.
Multiple fire engines rushed to the hospital in Cuttack, while medical staff scrambled to move patients out of the smoke-filled unit. Several staff members suffered burn injuries while helping shift patients to safer areas.
According to Mohan Charan Majhi, a total of 23 patients were moved to other departments and ICUs within the hospital. Seven patients died during the evacuation process, while three others later succumbed to their critical conditions.
#SCBFireTragedy: #Odisha CM Mohan Majhi visited SCB Medical College & Hospital to review the situation after the fire in the Trauma Care ICU. 10 patients died while being shifted after the incident.
The CM announces Rs 25 lakh ex gratia for each deceased and ordered a judicial… pic.twitter.com/YAzOhJbSeO
— OTV (@otvnews) March 16, 2026
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Most of the victims were already in a serious condition before the fire broke out, which made rapid evacuation particularly difficult, officials said.
Chief Minister Majhi, accompanied by Mukesh Mahaling, visited the hospital soon after the incident to review the situation. The leaders met injured staff members and families of the victims and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for those affected.
The state government announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased patient and ordered a judicial inquiry to determine the cause of the fire and examine whether any safety lapses occurred.
The hospital, one of the largest government-run medical institutions in Odisha, serves as a major referral centre for trauma and critical care cases across the region.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety in hospitals, particularly in intensive care units where patients depend on oxygen lines and life-support equipment.
Firefighters continued operations for several hours to fully secure the area and prevent the flames from spreading further. Authorities said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, with possibilities such as an electrical short circuit still under investigation.
Condolences poured in from across the state as officials vowed to strengthen safety protocols in medical facilities once the inquiry is completed.
