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 headed by retired district judge Laxmidhar Biswal is still underway and requires additional time for completion.

The judicial commission was constituted through a government notification issued on March 16, 2026, immediately after the devastating fire mishap at the state’s premier government-run hospital. The commission was tasked with investigating the circumstances that led to the incident and examining possible lapses in safety measures and emergency response systems.

The commission’s original 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 extended the deadline for submission of the inquiry report till July 15, 2026.

The latest amendment replaces the earlier direction asking the commission to complete the probe “within 60 days” with a revised deadline extending up to July 15.

The tragic fire incident had sparked widespread concern over fire safety standards and emergency preparedness in government healthcare institutions across Odisha.

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