Bhubaneswar/Kataka: The Odisha government has again extended the tenure of the judicial commission, probing the devastating fire at the trauma care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Kataka, which left 12 patients dead on March 16.
The single-member commission, led by retired District Judge Lakshmidhar Biswal, has been granted an additional two months to conclude its investigation. The commission is now required to submit its final report to the government by September 15, 2026, according to the latest notification issued by the Home (Special) Department.
Previously, the commission had been granted an extension until July 15, to complete its findings. However, given the necessity for a thorough probe, the government has pushed the deadline forward to mid-September.
The fire broke out in the early hours of March 16 between 2:30 am and 3 am when critically ill patients were undergoing treatment in the ICU. Multiple fire engines were rushed to the hospital as emergency teams worked to control the blaze and evacuate patients.
In response to the tragedy, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased and immediately constituted a judicial commission to investigate the root causes, identify potential security lapses, assess the role of hospital management, and examine the circumstances that led to the catastrophe.
Initially, the commission was tasked with submitting its report within 60 days of its formation. The commission began its probe with a visit to the SCB hospital on April 13 when Judge Biswal also inspected the trauma care ICU. The tenure was first extended to July 15 after the panel requested for more time as it was not able to cover all aspects of the investigation. The final report is expected to detail the exact cause of the fire, identify any negligence or systemic failures, and provide crucial recommendations for upgrading safety protocols to prevent similar disasters in government hospitals in the future.