A fire broke out inside the ICU of the accident department at a hospital in Odisha, India, killing 10 patients and injuring 11 staff members who were trying to assist. The cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit.
Foreign news agencies reported that on 16 Mar 2024 GMT+7, a severe fire erupted inside the accident center of SCB Medical College and Hospital, a large medical facility in Cuttack, Odisha state, eastern India. The blaze started inside the ICU for accident patients at around 02:30 local time, causing panic among patients and staff working overnight.
Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, confirmed that 10 patients died in the incident. Additionally, 11 hospital staff suffered burns and required urgent treatment after risking their lives to rescue patients from the flames. The fire spread rapidly from the accident ICU to adjacent wards before firefighters contained the situation. Remaining patients were relocated to other wards for safety.
Authorities initially suspect the cause was an electrical short circuit, a chronic problem that has caused tragic incidents in many Indian hospitals over the years. Similar devastating fires have occurred repeatedly in recent years, such as:
The Odisha Chief Minister praised the bravery of the medical and security teams who risked their lives to save patients, ordered the best care for the injured, and announced compensation for the victims’ families. He also directed the formation of an investigative committee to determine the fire’s exact cause.
He emphasized that if negligence or fault by any individual is found, strict legal action will be taken.
Hospitals in India are considered high-risk for fires due to extensive electrical equipment, flammable oxygen systems, and the difficulty in moving patients who cannot help themselves during emergencies.
. Source:BBC