Cuttack: : At least 10 patients lost their lives while several others sustained critical burn injuries after a major fire broke out at the Trauma Care ICU of the Emergency Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital here in Odisha in the wee hours of Monday.
As per reports, the fire, suspected to be caused by an electric short circuit, erupted around 2:30 am on the first floor of the Emergency Department. As soon as the fire was reported in the ICU, panic gripped patients. The fire safety team and fire brigade personnel subsequently responded promptly, deploying three fire tenders to control the blaze. Patients were quickly evacuated, with critically ill individuals shifted to the New Medicine ICU.
Senior officials, including the Health Secretary, Cuttack District Collector, and DCP, rushed to the scene to oversee relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire incident at SCB Medical’s Trauma Care ICU and visited the scene.
He has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.The CM has condoled the bereaved families and instructed to shift other patients to suitable places and continue treatment. He announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia to the next of kin of each deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Majhi also met patients undergoing treatment and their relatives, assured them of best care, and directed officials to provide optimal treatment to those shifted from the ICU.
