Cuttack hospital fire claims 10 lives, exposes gaps in ICU safety protocols

A fire inside the intensive care unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has left at least 10 patients dead, turning attention once again to safety standards in public hospitals. The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, broke out in a high-dependency area where patients were on life support.

Hospital staff and emergency responders rushed to evacuate patients as smoke spread through the ward. Several patients are reported to have died during the evacuation process, while at least 11 staff members sustained injuries in the effort to contain the situation and shift the critically ill.

The Odisha government has ordered an inquiry and announced compensation for the families of the deceased. Officials have said a detailed assessment of fire safety compliance across state-run hospitals will follow.

Incidents of this nature are not new. Previous hospital fires across the country have repeatedly pointed to lapses in maintenance of electrical systems, inadequate fire exits and poor emergency preparedness. Despite guidelines, implementation on the ground has remained uneven.

The Cuttack tragedy underscores a persistent gap between policy and practice. In facilities where patients are least capable of self-preservation, the margin for error is minimal. The question is not whether protocols exist, but whether they are enforced with the urgency they demand.