In a tragic incident, ten people have been killed after a fire broke out in the trauma centre of a government hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. All the deceased were patients, while eleven hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while attempting to rescue them.
The fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, ignited in the trauma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack city around 02:30 local time on Monday.
Recent reports indicate that hospital fires in India frequently occur due to electrical faults. Just last October, six critically ill patients were killed in a similar fire in a hospital in Rajasthan state.
Following the blaze in Odisha, fire service personnel managed to get the flames under control, and patients were relocated to other departments within the hospital. Health officials stated that SCB Medical College and Hospital is one of the largest government-run facilities in the region.
In response to the tragedy, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced financial compensation for the victims' families and ordered a judicial inquiry, promising strict action against anyone found responsible for the incident.
The high number of electronic medical devices, oxygen systems, and patients requiring immediate support often places hospitals in India at a higher risk for fire outbreaks.
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