A devastating incident occurred early Monday morning at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, where a severe fire broke out in the trauma care ICU. The fire erupted around 3 AM on the first floor of the trauma care unit, quickly engulfing the ICU ward in smoke, which was critically alarming as many seriously ill patients were on life support systems at the time. The rapid spread of the fire limited the evacuation process, leading to tragic outcomes for several patients.

Hospital staff and fire brigade personnel immediately initiated rescue efforts, managing to evacuate dozens of patients from the facility. However, many vulnerable patients were caught in the thick smoke and high flames, making it a race against time for the rescue teams. Those who survived the ordeal and were in critical condition were promptly transferred to a new medicine ICU for continuation of treatment amidst the chaos. Firefighting teams battled for hours with the blaze, employing three fire engines to bring the situation under control.

In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi visited the scene to assess the situation and offer condolences to the affected families. The incident raises serious concerns about fire safety protocols in medical institutions, highlighting the urgent need for robust safety standards to protect patients, especially in critical care environments. The loss of life in such unexpected circumstances underscores the vulnerabilities within hospital infrastructure during emergencies.