Ten killed in fire at India hospital intensive care unit

Ten patients have died after a fire broke out in the trauma centre intensive care unit of a government hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.

The victims were all patients receiving treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in the city of Cuttack. Eleven hospital staff members are currently receiving treatment for burns suffered while attempting to rescue those trapped in the blaze, according to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Officials said the fire started around 02:30 local time on Monday (21:00 GMT Sunday) in the trauma care ICU. Early investigations suggest the blaze may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the hospital and managed to bring the fire under control. Patients in the affected units were evacuated and transferred to other wards within the same facility as the rescue operation unfolded.

SCB Medical College and Hospital is among the largest government-run medical institutions in Odisha and serves thousands of patients each year.

After visiting the hospital, Majhi told reporters that the fire damaged the trauma care ICU as well as an adjoining intensive care unit and nearby wards. He praised the actions of medical workers and security staff who, he said, “risked their lives” to save patients during the emergency.

The state government has announced financial compensation for the families of those who died and has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Authorities say strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible once investigations are completed.

Hospital fires are reported periodically across India, with many incidents linked to electrical faults and overloaded systems. Medical facilities are particularly vulnerable due to the heavy use of electrical equipment, oxygen systems and the presence of patients who cannot easily be moved during emergencies.

Several similar tragedies have occurred in recent years. In 2024, a fire in the neonatal intensive care unit of a medical college in Jhansi killed at least 10 newborn babies. In 2021, a blaze at Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar claimed the lives of 13 patients being treated for Covid-19. Another fire the same year at a newborn care unit in Bhandara district in Maharashtra killed 10 infants.

Authorities say investigations into the Odisha hospital fire are ongoing as officials work to determine the exact cause and ensure similar incidents are prevented in the future.