Cuttack (Odisha), March 16 (NationPress) Families of individuals who tragically perished in a devastating fire that erupted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the SCB Medical College and Hospital's trauma care center in Cuttack are holding the hospital management accountable for the calamity. The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, has claimed the lives of 10 people, left many injured, and left others unaccounted for.

A relative of one of the deceased expressed his anguish, stating, "I admitted my maternal grandfather here. He had been receiving treatment for 10 days after surgery. I was bringing in essential supplies, including blood for his transfusion. The doctor indicated he needed one last unit of blood this morning, and then this tragedy unfolded."

The family member accused the hospital personnel of negligence, saying, "If they had executed their responsibilities properly, so many lives could have been saved."

He further critiqued the hospital's practices, noting, "Patients aren't allowed to have mobile phones, yet the staff charge theirs. Such negligence could have ignited the fire."

He lamented the wasted time, stating, "We noticed smoke but were barred from entering; we could have potentially rescued our loved ones. An hour was lost, and the fire intensified while the fire brigade took another hour to arrive."

He voiced his frustration regarding the security protocols, claiming, "When our patient's bed number is announced, we must listen intently, or we risk being turned away. The security personnel act as if they hold significant authority."

The grieving father of a victim from Balasore shared, "I had been with my son for several days. The doctor mentioned he needed additional blood units yesterday evening."

Overcome with emotion, he told IANS that his son remains untraceable following the fire. "I still don’t know where my son is. I haven’t been able to locate him," he said.

He pleaded with authorities, stating, "I want my son found. His name is missing from both the deceased and injured lists. I’ve inquired with security, but no one has information about him. Please search for my son."

Amitabh Rai shared that his father had been hospitalized due to a head injury since March 6. "He was recovering well, but I lost him in last night's fire tragedy," he said.

Rai explained, "My mother and elder brother were present when they called to inform me of the fire. The hospital staff wouldn’t allow them to retrieve my father."

Later, he learned of his father's death. He blamed the medical staff for the incident, stating, "The medical personnel are solely responsible for this disaster. They must ensure the safety of patients during treatment."