THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 16, 2026

In the wake of the devastating blaze that claimed 10 lives, the Odisha government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragic fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital, one of the state’s premier medical institutions, triggering a multi-layered investigation into the incident that has shaken public confidence in hospital safety systems.

The fire broke out in the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital during the early hours of Monday, raising serious concerns about emergency preparedness and safety protocols in critical care facilities across the state.

In response to the gravity of the incident, the state government has announced the formation of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry. According to an official notification issued by the Home (Special Section) Department, retired District Judge Laxmidhar Biswal has been appointed to head the inquiry under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

The commission has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive probe into the sequence of events that led to the fire, determining the roles and responsibilities of individuals and authorities connected with the hospital’s functioning, and examining whether adequate safety and emergency response systems were in place at the time of the incident. It will also assess the response measures taken before and after the tragedy and recommend steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The panel has been directed to submit its report within 60 days from the date of publication of the notification in the Odisha Gazette.

 “The state government is deeply concerned about this matter of serious public importance,” the notification states, emphasising the need for a judicial probe to ensure transparency and accountability.

The headquarters of the commission will be based in Cuttack, though it may conduct proceedings elsewhere if required. Copies of the notification have been forwarded to key authorities including the Orissa High Court, the Chief Minister’s Office, police authorities and other concerned departments for immediate action.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had constituted a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate the tragic fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The Chief Minister directed the team to identify the causes behind the incident that claimed patient lives and disrupted hospital operations. Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh will chair the committee.

The members include Fire Services IG Dr Umashankar Dash, Chief Electrical Inspector and EIC Barada Prasanna Dash, EIC of Urban Public Health Department Biranchi Narayan Pradhan, Chief Engineer (Building) Priyabrata Samantaray, and Director of Medical Education and Training Professor Dr Santosh Kumar Mishra.

The committee will visit SCB Medical College and Hospital to conduct a detailed inspection and submit its report to the Chief Secretary by this evening.