Bhubaneswar, May 19: The Odisha government has extended the tenure of the judicial commission investigating the tragic fire incident at the Trauma Care ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which had claimed several lives on March 16 this year.
According to a notification issued by the Home (Special Section) Department, the inquiry being conducted by retired district judge Laxmidhar Biswal is still in progress and requires additional time for completion. The judicial commission was originally constituted through a government notification issued on March 16, 2026, shortly after the devastating fire mishap at the state-run medical institution.
The commission was initially directed to complete the inquiry within 60 days, and its tenure was scheduled to end on May 15, 2026. However, exercising powers under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, and the Orissa Commission of Inquiry Rules, 1979, the state government has now amended the earlier notification and extended the deadline for submission of the final report till July 15, 2026.
The revised notification replaces the earlier timeline of “within 60 days” with a fresh deadline extending up to July 15 this year.
The fire tragedy at the Trauma Care ICU had triggered widespread concern across Odisha over fire safety standards, emergency preparedness and infrastructure management in government hospitals. The incident had also raised serious questions regarding compliance with fire safety protocols in critical healthcare facilities across the state.
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