Ten people have died after a fire broke out in the trauma centre of a government hospital in Odisha, eastern India, officials confirmed. All victims were patients, while 11 hospital staff sustained burns while attempting to rescue them, state Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.
The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, erupted in the trauma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack city at around 02:30 local time on Monday (21:00 GMT Sunday).
Hospital fires are a recurring concern in India, often linked to electrical faults. Last October, six critically ill patients died in an ICU fire in Rajasthan. In 2024, at least 10 newborns were killed in a neonatal ICU blaze in northern Jhansi. Other deadly incidents include a 2021 ICU fire in Virar, western India, which claimed 13 Covid-19 patients, and another fire at a newborn care unit in Maharashtra that same year, killing 10 infants.
In Odisha, fire services quickly brought the blaze under control. Patients were relocated to other wards within the hospital, officials said. SCB Medical College and Hospital is one of the state’s largest government-run medical facilities.
After visiting the hospital, Majhi told reporters that the fire affected the trauma care ICU as well as an adjoining ICU and several wards. He praised medical and security staff who “risked their lives” to save patients, noting that some sustained injuries during the rescue. The government has directed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured.
Financial compensation has been announced for the families of the victims, and Majhi ordered a judicial inquiry, promising strict action against anyone found responsible.
Experts say hospitals are particularly vulnerable to fires due to the high concentration of electrical equipment, oxygen systems, and patients who are often unable to evacuate quickly during emergencies. Short circuits remain one of the most common causes of hospital fires in India.