A tragic incident in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has led to the loss of ten lives after a fire broke out in the trauma center of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The fire, suspected to be triggered by an electrical short circuit, erupted early Monday morning in the intensive care unit (ICU), claiming the lives of all patients present at the time.
According to the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, 11 hospital staff members have also suffered burn injuries while attempting to rescue their patients. The blaze at one of the largest government-run hospitals in the state raised alarms due to the frequency of such incidents linked to electrical failures in hospitals across India.
Fire officials managed to bring the situation under control promptly, ensuring the safe transfer of patients to other departments within the facility. However, the deadly fire serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities that hospitals face, especially considering the presence of high-voltage medical equipment and critical patient care needs.
Following the incident, the government has pledged support and compensation for the families of the victims. A judicial inquiry has been commissioned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, promising accountability for any negligence discovered.
Such unfortunate events are not uncommon. A similar fire last year in a Rajasthan ICU claimed the lives of six critically ill patients, and previous incidents in Jhansi and Virar have highlighted ongoing concerns about fire safety measures in hospitals.
