At least 10 critically ill patients have died after a fire broke out at a government-owned hospital in eastern India, officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred early Monday on the first floor of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, located in Odisha State. Authorities said the fire started in the trauma intensive care unit where several patients were receiving treatment.
Odisha State Governor, Mohan Charan Majhi, told reporters that a short circuit triggered the blaze. He said 23 patients were on the floor when the fire started.
Ten patients lost their lives in the incident, while the remaining patients were safely evacuated and moved to other wards within the hospital.
During rescue efforts, at least 11 hospital staff members sustained burn injuries while trying to save the patients.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, described the tragedy as “deeply painful” in a message posted on social media. He also expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and announced financial assistance of $2,160 for each affected family.
Fire outbreaks in buildings are relatively common in India, often linked to poor maintenance of electrical wiring and limited firefighting facilities.
In 2024, a similar fire at a private hospital in Tamil Nadu killed six people and left more than 20 others injured. In another incident that same year, a fire at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh claimed the lives of 10 newborn babies.
Authorities are expected to investigate the latest incident to determine the exact cause and prevent future occurrences.
