"At least 11 people were killed early Monday after a fire broke out in the trauma care unit of a Srirama Chandra Bhanja (SCB) Medical College and Hospital in Odisha's former capital city, Cuttack, in eastern India. Footage shows relatives of victims mourning outside the facility, as hospital staff transferred bodies on stretchers. Police were deployed to secure the site while the public oversaw the scene. “My father had a head injury. He was fine, and he was eating food. The doctor was about to visit him in the morning when this incident occurred," said Abdul Majeet, son of a fire victim, adding, "I appeal to all of you; I need your help. Please hand over the body soon." The blaze at the city's largest state-run facility sent thick smoke billowing through its critical care wing as emergency services responded and patients and staff evacuated, according to media reports. The fire, which broke out around 3 a.m. on the unit’s first floor, where 23 patients were receiving treatment, led to the rescue of more than 100 people, but 11, most of them critically ill ICU patients, succumbed to the tragedy. Local officials determined the likely cause of the fire to be a short circuit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the loss of life, wishing the injured a speedy recovery and announcing compensation of 2,200 USD (1,911 EUR) for the families of the deceased. "The mishap at a hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, is deeply painful. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will receive Rs. 50,000," a post from his office stated on X (formerly Twitter). Hospital fires remain a persistent safety concern across India, often linked to inadequate infrastructure and lax enforcement of fire regulations. An investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway. "