Night of horror at Odisha's Cuttack hospital as ICU fire leaves 10 dead

A fire broke out in the trauma care intensive care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack early Monday morning. The blaze triggered panic inside the hospital as emergency teams and staff rushed to control the flames and evacuate patients.

The incident took place around 3am in the trauma care intensive care unit of the hospital. The fire broke out while patients were admitted for treatment, prompting an urgent evacuation effort by hospital authorities and emergency responders.

According to officials, seven patients died inside the trauma care ICU where the fire originated. The blaze spread quickly within the unit, making rescue operations challenging for hospital staff and firefighters responding to the emergency.

Three other patients died while being shifted to safer wards during the rescue operation. Hospital authorities had begun moving patients from the ICU immediately after the fire was detected to prevent further casualties.

Hospital staff and firefighters began shifting patients from the ICU soon after the blaze was detected. Several patients were moved to other wards to protect them from smoke and flames as rescue operations continued inside the hospital.

Rescue teams, along with hospital staff, managed to shift several patients from the ICU to other wards during the operation. Firefighters worked with medical staff to control the blaze and ensure that patients were moved away from the affected area.

Preliminary information suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the trauma care ICU. Authorities said the suspected electrical fault triggered the blaze that led to the emergency situation at the hospital.

Eleven employees of SCB Medical College and Hospital who participated in the rescue operation were hospitalised after experiencing health complications. Officials said several of them suffered from smoke inhalation during efforts to evacuate patients.

Authorities have ordered a judicial probe into the hospital fire to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident. The inquiry will examine the events leading to the blaze and review the response during the emergency.