Fire in trauma ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack kills 12 patients
A fire in the trauma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack in the early hours of 16 March 2026 killed 12 patients by the next day; PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia from PMNRF for each deceased.
Summary
SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack suffered a fire in its first-floor trauma care ICU in the early hours of Monday, 16 March 2026, apparently caused by an electrical short circuit. Ten patients died on the day, seven of them during evacuation, and the toll rose to 12 by 17 March; 23 patients were shifted from the affected ICU. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Key facts
- Date
- Early hours of 16 March 2026
- Place
- Trauma care ICU, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack
- Likely cause
- Electrical short circuit
- Deaths
- 12 (by 17 March)
- Patients shifted
- 23
- PMNRF ex-gratia
- ₹2 lakh per deceased; ₹50,000 per injured
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The fire in the trauma care ICU on 16 March 2026 that killed 12 patients occurred at which hospital?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack
The fire broke out in the first-floor trauma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
What ex-gratia did the Prime Minister announce from PMNRF for the next of kin of each person killed in the Cuttack hospital fire?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹2 lakh
The PM announced ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.