What if the very place meant to save lives… suddenly turns into a death trap?

News Desk : Voice of Calcutta

In a shocking and tragic incident, a massive fire broke out inside the ICU of Subhash Chandra Bose (SCB) Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha—claiming at least 10 lives.

The fire reportedly started around 3 AM inside the trauma care ICU. Within moments, flames and thick smoke spread rapidly across the ward, leaving critically ill patients with little chance to escape.

Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff rushed in, risking their own lives to evacuate patients. In the chaos, several patients were shifted to other wards.

But despite desperate rescue efforts, 10 patients could not be saved.

According to officials, seven patients died inside the ICU itself, while three more lost their lives during transfer.

At least 23 patients were successfully evacuated. Meanwhile, over 10 hospital staff members were injured, many due to smoke inhalation.

[Emergency Response]

Fire engines arrived quickly and battled the flames for hours before bringing the situation under control. The entire hospital परिसर was filled with panic, fear, and urgency.

[Official Statement]

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the site and confirmed the death toll. He announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for each victim’s family and ordered a high-level investigation into the incident.

Preliminary reports suggest a possible short circuit, but officials say the exact cause will be determined after a full investigation.

[Impact / Question]

This heartbreaking tragedy raises a serious question

Are our hospitals truly equipped to handle fire emergencies?

When critical patients in ICUs—who cannot even move—become victims of such incidents, it exposes a dangerous gap in safety systems.

A hospital is meant to be a place of hope…

But for these 10 patients, it became their final destination.

This is not just an accident—

It’s a warning.

News Desk : Voice of Calcutta