Major hospital fire tragedies in India in recent years

Cuttack: Following a major fire that erupted in a surgical ICU in the Odisha government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Monday, at least ten patients were killed. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said about 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while rescuing patients to safety.

The recent incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety in healthcare facilities. Here’s a look at major hospital fire tragedies in the country in recent years:

* AMRI Hospital, Kolkata (December 9, 2011): More than 90 people (mostly patients) were choked to death from the toxic fumes after a fire broke out in the basement of the seven-storeyed AMRI Hospital’s annexe building in the early hours of December 9, 2011.

* Dreams Mall, Mumbai (March 25-26, 2021): A fire broke out at Mumbai’s Dreams Mall, which housed a Covid-designated hospital, on the intervening night of March 25-26. The fire, which raged for more than 40 hours, claimed nine lives, including those of patients on ventilator support.

Also Read:Cuttack SCB Hospital Fire: Govt appoints retired judge to lead probe

* Vijay Vallabh Hospital, Virar (April 23, 2021): Fifteen COVID-19 patients died after a fire broke out at the ICU of Vijay Vallabh Hospital at Virar in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, reports PTI.

* Patel Welfare Hospital, Bharuch (May 1, 2021): Eighteen persons, including 16 COVID-19 patients and two trainee nurses, died in a fire at Patel Welfare Hospital, run by a charitable trust, in Gujarat’s Bharuch in the early hours.

* Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi (November 15, 2024): At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district, possibly due to an electrical short circuit.

* SMS Hospital, Jaipur (October 6, 2025): A massive fire blazed through the neuro ICU of Jaipur’s state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, killing six patients on critical care support.

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