Bhubaneswar, March 18: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken disciplinary action following the tragic fire at Shri Ramachandra Bhanja (SCB) Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on March 16. The fire, which broke out in the Trauma Care ICU during the early hours, led to the heartbreaking loss of 12 lives as the blaze spread rapidly due to critical safety lapses.

In response to the findings of a fact-finding team led by the Development Commissioner, the Chief Minister has ordered the suspension of four officials for their negligence and failure to adhere to fire safety protocols.

The suspended officers are:

1. Prakash Kumar Jena, Deputy Fire Officer, Cuttack Circle
2. Sanjib Kumar Behera, Assistant Fire Officer, Cuttack Circle
3. Abhinav Prusti, Station Officer, SCB Medical College and Hospital
4. Ranjan Kumar Biswal, Assistant Executive Engineer, SCB Sub-Division, Cuttack GED

These suspensions are aimed at ensuring accountability for the disaster and reinforcing the importance of maintaining safety standards in vital institutions like hospitals.

Earlier, Chief Minister Majhi had formed a high-level fact-finding committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.