The Odisha government has established a single-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the recent fire incident at the Trauma Care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where ten patients lost their lives. The state government, through a notification from the Odisha Home Department, emphasized the gravity of the situation, deeming it a matter of significant public concern.
Laxmidhar Biswal, a Retired District Judge, has been appointed as the sole member of the Commission, tasked with completing the inquiry within 60 days of the notification’s publication in the Odisha Gazette. The Commission’s scope includes examining the events leading to the fire mishap, assessing the responsibilities of individuals or authorities involved, evaluating the hospital and other agencies’ readiness in handling such incidents, and reviewing the effectiveness of pre and post-incident measures taken to save patients’ lives.
In response to the tragic incident and public outcry, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had previously announced a judicial inquiry to ensure accountability and address any negligence contributing to the disaster. Additionally, a six-member fact-finding team, led by Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, has been formed to investigate the causes of the fire.
The fire at the SCB Medical College’s Trauma Care ICU, believed to have originated from an electrical short circuit between 2 AM and 3 AM, resulted in the immediate death of seven critically injured patients, with three others succumbing after being transferred to different ICUs.
