Odisha suspends four officials over SCB Hospital fire

Rumela De Sarkar

Odisha suspends four officials over SCB Hospital fire

Written By : Rumela De Sarkar Published On 2026-03-19T15:47:37+05:30 | Updated On 19 March 2026 3:47 PM IST

Following SCB Hospital Fire, Odisha Suspends Four Officials Amid Political Storm

Cuttack: Days after the massive fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack that killed 12 people, the Odisha government on Wednesday suspended four officers, intensifying scrutiny over hospital safety lapses. The incident has also sparked a political storm, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of state Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling.

The fire broke out around 2:30 am in the hospital’s trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where 23 critically ill patients were admitted across two rooms. Most victims were asleep when the blaze started, leaving them little time to escape.

Also Read:Fire at Cuttack Hospital ICU: 10 patients killed, 11 staff injured

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a major fire broke out at the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Odisha's government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday morning, claiming the lives of 10 people. Eleven hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while rescuing patients, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.

Preliminary investigations revealed multiple failures, including a non-functional sprinkler system and a disabled fire alarm. The probe found that the sprinkler system did not activate because its control valve had been left closed, and the fire alarm system had been switched off for several days. The fire reportedly originated from two ventilator machines in the ICU.

Following the probe, a fact-finding team headed by the development commissioner, the state government suspended the deputy fire officer and assistant fire officer of the Cuttack Circle, station officer of SCB, and assistant executive engineer of the SCB sub-division under the General Electrical Division.

The issue reverberated in the Odisha legislative assembly on Wednesday, where members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) disrupted proceedings during Question Hour, pressing for Mahaling’s resignation. The Speaker adjourned the House twice. BJD MLA Arun Sahoo alleged a “complete collapse” of the healthcare system, claiming the department was in a “coma” and had now “died”, and accused the government of failing to ensure accountability, reports Hindustan Times.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected these allegations, calling them a politicisation of a tragic incident. BJP MLA Manas Dutta pointed out that Chief Minister Mohan Majhi had ordered a judicial inquiry and that the Health Minister had made statements in the Assembly.

Also Read:Major hospital fire tragedies in India in recent years

Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik, who visited the hospital, described the fire as a reflection of “crumbling safety standards” and demanded Mahaling’s resignation. Congress leader Ramachandra Kadam echoed the call, emphasizing that expressions of grief alone were inadequate and that government accountability was essential.

SCB Medical Collegehospital fireMukesh Mahalingpatient dead

Rumela De Sarkar

With a keen interest in storytelling and a dedication to uncovering facts, Rumela De Sarkar joined Medical Dialogues as a Correspondent in 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Bengal. Rumela covers a wide range of healthcare topics, including medical news, policy updates, and developments related to doctors, hospitals, and medical education