A major fire at the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, early Monday morning left ten patients dead and several hospital staff members injured.

According to officials, the fire broke out between 2:30 am and 3:00 am in the trauma ICU where critically ill patients were undergoing treatment. Emergency teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident, and multiple fire engines were deployed to control the blaze and assist in rescue operations.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said hospital staff were injured while evacuating patients from the affected ward during the emergency.

Patients shifted as rescue operations continued

Following the fire, 23 patients were moved to other departments and wards within the hospital to ensure their safety and continued medical care.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said seven critically ill patients died while being shifted to other ICUs and wards, while three more succumbed later.

“A total of 23 patients have been shifted to other departments. Seven serious patients died while shifting to other ICUs and wards, while another three patients died later. I have directed the concerned officers for proper treatment of the injured patients,” Majhi said.

Chief minister visits hospital, announces compensation

Soon after the incident, Majhi visited the hospital along with Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling to review the situation. They also met patients who were undergoing treatment at the facility.

The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased patient.

He also ordered a judicial probe into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and examine safety measures at the hospital.

Authorities continue to monitor the condition of injured staff members and patients who were shifted from the ICU.

Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging certain proceedings in the Delhi excise policy case and alleging a violation of his fundamental rights.

In a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, Kejriwal has questioned a decision of the Delhi High Court that put a freeze on remarks related to the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The petition also challenges an order of the High Court Chief Justice rejecting Kejriwal’s request to transfer the case to another bench.

Plea seeks change of bench

Earlier, on March 11, Kejriwal and several others submitted a representation to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya seeking reassignment of the case to what they described as an “impartial” judge.

In the representation, Kejriwal stated that he had a “grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension” that the matter may not receive an impartial hearing before the current bench.

However, the Chief Justice declined the request and said the petition had been assigned as per the existing roster.

According to the communication sent by the High Court’s Registrar General on March 13 to eight individuals including Kejriwal, the Chief Justice noted that any decision on recusal must be taken by the judge hearing the matter and that there was no reason to transfer the petition administratively.

Order on trial court proceedings also challenged

Kejriwal has also challenged a March 9 order passed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court.

In that order, Justice Sharma had stayed a trial court direction that called for an investigation into a CBI officer who handled the excise policy case. The High Court had also asked the trial court to defer proceedings connected to the anti-money laundering aspect of the case.

Justice Sharma had further rejected certain observations made by the trial court while discharging Kejriwal and 22 others, stating that some of those remarks were erroneous.

Hearing expected on CBI plea

Meanwhile, Justice Sharma is scheduled to hear a petition filed by the CBI challenging the discharge of Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others in the excise policy case.

The matter remains under judicial consideration as the legal challenge now moves to the Supreme Court.

Polling for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections is being held on Monday for 37 seats across 10 states, with voting taking place between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, according to the Election Commission of India.

The counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm, after polling concludes. Authorities have issued detailed guidelines and deployed observers to ensure that the voting process takes place smoothly and in a transparent manner.

Seats across 10 states going to polls

The elections are being conducted to fill vacancies in the Upper House from several states. The 37 seats up for election are distributed across the following states:

• Maharashtra – 7 seats
• Tamil Nadu – 6 seats
• Bihar – 5 seats
• West Bengal – 5 seats
• Odisha – 4 seats
• Assam – 3 seats
• Telangana – 2 seats
• Chhattisgarh – 2 seats
• Haryana – 2 seats
• Himachal Pradesh – 1 seat
  

These biennial elections are held as sitting members of the Rajya Sabha complete their six-year terms.

Key leaders completing their terms

Several prominent members of the Upper House are set to complete their terms in April, leading to the current round of elections.

Among them are Union Ministers Ramnath Thakur and Ramdas Athawale, along with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.

Other leaders whose terms are ending include Sharad Pawar, Upendra Kushwaha, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, M Thambidurai, and Tiruchi Siva.

Election Commission guidelines for voting

The Election Commission has issued specific instructions for voting during the Rajya Sabha elections.

MLAs participating in the election must use only the integrated violet sketch pen supplied by the Returning Officer to mark their preferences on ballot papers. The use of any other pen is not permitted.

Observers appointed by the Commission will monitor the polling process closely to ensure that the elections are conducted freely and fairly across all participating states.

With polling underway and counting scheduled later in the evening, results are expected to clarify the new composition of the Upper House.