At least 10 critically ill patients have died following a fire at a government-run hospital in eastern India, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The blaze broke out early Monday on the first floor of SCB Medical College and Hospital, located in the city of Cuttack.
According to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the fire started in the trauma intensive care unit (ICU), where critically ill patients were receiving treatment.
Majhi said a short circuit is believed to have sparked the blaze. At the time of the incident, 23 patients were in the ward.
Ten patients died as a result of the fire, while the remaining patients were safely moved to other wards in the hospital.
At least 11 staff members sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue patients during the emergency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply painful” in a social media post and expressed condolences to the families of those who died. He also announced compensation of about $2,160 for the affected families.
Building fires remain a recurring problem in India, often linked to poor safety standards, inadequate firefighting equipment and faulty electrical wiring.
In 2024, a fire at a private hospital in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least six people and injured more than two dozen others.
In the same year, another hospital fire in Uttar Pradesh claimed the lives of 10 newborn babies.