’25 lakhs to the dead, the culprits will not be given boxes’, CM Majhi’s announcement on Cuttack accident

A tragic accident took place in Cuttack, Odisha on Monday. A massive fire broke out in the ICU of SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, killing 10 people and injuring 11. The information about deaths and injured has been given by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi himself. The Chief Minister reached the hospital after the incident. He said that around 11 hospital employees sustained burn injuries while evacuating the patients safely.

The Chief Minister said that 23 patients were admitted in Trauma Care and the adjacent ICU. Seven patients died in the fire, while three others died of suffocation or burns, he said. Majhi said that a total of 10 patients have died in this incident. He said the fire probably occurred due to short circuit.

announcement of judicial inquiry

The Chief Minister said the fire broke out in the ICU of the trauma care department of the hospital, where critically ill patients were being treated. Majhi also announced a judicial inquiry into the matter and asked the Director General of Fire Services to investigate the matter and submit the report to him immediately. He said, ‘I direct the Director General of Fire Department to personally visit SCB Medical College and Hospital and ensure compliance with fire safety rules.’

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Strict action will be taken against the culprit

Chief Minister Majhi assured that after the judicial inquiry, if anyone is found guilty in the report, strict action will be taken against him. An official said that the fire broke out between 2.30 am and 3 am. Firefighters immediately reached the hospital and began operations to extinguish the fire. The fire service officials, along with the hospital staff, police personnel and attendants of the patients, evacuated the patients admitted in the ICU and shifted them to other departments of the SCB hospital.

Rs 25 lakh to the family of the deceased

CM Majhi along with Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling visited the hospital and reviewed the situation. He also inquired about the well being of the patients undergoing treatment in the hospital. He said, ‘I have instructed the concerned authorities to provide proper treatment to the injured patients and staff.’ He has also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 25 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.

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Majhi said 11 medical officers risked their lives and took part in the rescue operation and are being treated in a ward of the hospital. He said, ‘After assuming charge, I had instructed the concerned department to prepare all the medical institutions to deal with the fire situation and I had also directed them to take necessary action in this regard.’

Naveen Patnaik expressed grief

The Chief Minister said that the government has made a provision of Rs 320 crore for this purpose in the annual budget of 2025-26, while a provision of Rs 400 crore has been made in the budget of the coming year (2026-27). He said that the work of installing fire fighting equipment in government medical establishments is going on war footing. Meanwhile, opposition leader Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death of 10 patients who died in the fire incident. He wished speedy recovery of the injured and plans to visit SCB Medical College Hospital.