On Monday morning, a devastating fire erupted in the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, as a result of which at least 10 patients were killed and many others were severely injured in the trauma care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. It is a state-owned government hospital of great size and the incident has brought about a massive concern about the safety of patients and the infrastructure of the hospital.
The fire, officials claim, began on the first floor in the trauma care unit where 23 patients were receiving treatment in the ICU when the fire broke out. The early reports indicate that the fire could have been caused by a short circuit but the precise cause is still to be ascertained. There was panic in the ward as the sudden appearance of fire caused hospital workers to scramble and move patients out of the ward.
Hospital workers and emergency responders including medical personnel, worked fast to transfer patients in the affected unit to safer spots in the hospital. Fire tenders came soon after, and succeeded in getting the flames down. In spite of the rescue, 10 patients died because of injuries and smoke inhalation, and five other patients are in critical condition, and are being treated.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the hospital immediately after the incident and commissioned a judicial investigation to establish the precise cause of the fire and any failure to adhere to safety measures. The state government also promised to compensate the families of the people who perished in the tragedy by giving them ₹25 lakh.
The accident followed only a day later, when a major nor’wester storm hit the state and brought extensive damages to the Mayurbhanj district. The storm is said to have claimed two lives and injured at least 17 others with over 200 houses being destroyed.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News