A fire broke out early Monday in the trauma care unit of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, located in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Officials reported that at least 10 people have been killed, with 11 staff members suffering severe burns as they attempted to rescue patients.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi indicated that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit, speaking to reporters after visiting the hospital. He praised the medical staff and security personnel for risking their lives to save patients, noting that they too sustained injuries and are currently under treatment.

The chief minister added that he had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and stated that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible. At the time of the fire, 23 patients were receiving care in the intensive care unit, and 10 of them died while being moved to a safer area. Five individuals were critically wounded, though it remains unclear if these injuries resulted from the fire or pre-existing conditions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "deeply painful" in a social media post, offering condolences to the victims' families. He also announced compensation of $2,160 for the affected families.

Building fires are a common occurrence in India, attributed to a lack of firefighting equipment and widespread disregard for safety regulations. Electrical short circuits, often due to poorly maintained wiring, remain the leading cause of such fires. In 2024, a fire at a private hospital in Tamil Nadu killed at least six people, while another hospital fire in Uttar Pradesh claimed the lives of 10 newborns, highlighting ongoing safety failures.

Source: www.aljazeera.com