Fire in intensive care unit of Bharat Hospital, 10 people died the news

The fire in Cuttack city may have been caused by a short circuit, which is common in India due to improperly maintained wiring.

At least 10 people have been killed in a fire at a hospital’s trauma care unit in Odisha, eastern India, officials said.

A fire broke out on the first floor of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack city early on Monday and the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Mazzhi told reporters after visiting the hospital.

At least 11 staff members suffered burns as they tried to rescue the patients.

“Medical staff and security personnel are risking their lives to protect patients,” Mazi said. “At this time, they also have injuries, and they are also undergoing treatment.”

The Chief Minister said that he has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and strict action will be taken against whoever is responsible.

Twenty-three patients were receiving medical care in the intensive care unit and 10 of them died while being evacuated to a safer area away from the fire. Five people were seriously injured, but it was not clear whether it was from the fire or from previous injuries.

In a post on social media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply painful” and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

He announced a compensation of $2,160 to the affected families.

Building fires are common in India due to lack of fire fighting equipment and routine disregard of safety rules. Electrical short circuits, often caused by improperly maintained wiring, remain the leading cause of fires.

In 2024, at least six people died and more than two dozen were injured in a fire at a private hospital in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

In the same year, a fire broke out at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh, killing 10 newborns. At least 24 people, including many children, have died in a fire at a family entertainment venue in the western Indian state of Gujarat.