At least 10 patients lost their lives after a fire swept through the intensive care section of a major government hospital in Odisha, eastern India, in the early hours of Monday.
The blaze erupted at the trauma care intensive care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack at about 2:30 a.m. local time, with preliminary reports pointing to an electrical short circuit as the likely cause.
Authorities said all 10 victims were patients receiving treatment in the affected unit. Eleven hospital staff members sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue patients and are currently undergoing treatment.
Mohan Charan Majhi, who visited the hospital after the incident, said the fire spread beyond the trauma ICU to an adjoining intensive care unit and nearby wards, complicating emergency evacuation efforts.
He praised medical personnel and security staff for risking their lives during the rescue operation, noting that several responders were injured while trying to move patients to safety.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, while patients from affected sections were relocated to safer departments within the hospital.
The Odisha state government has announced compensation for the families of those killed and ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. Officials say anyone found negligent will face strict action.
Hospital fires remain a recurring safety concern across India, often linked to electrical faults. Medical facilities are particularly vulnerable because of heavy electrical loads, oxygen supply systems, and critically ill patients who are difficult to evacuate quickly during emergencies.
The incident adds to a series of deadly hospital fires across the country in recent years, including fatal ICU blazes in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
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