India, March 17 -- The toll from the fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha's Cuttack rose to 12 after an 11-year-old girl and a 45-year-old man died on Tuesday.

The blaze broke out around 2.30am on Monday in the hospital's trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where 23 patients were admitted in two rooms. Many of the victims were critically ill and asleep when the fire started, leaving little time to escape. Seven patients died on the spot, and three others while being shifted. Three of the patients who suffered burn injuries were said to be serious.

Relatives of the victims alleged lapses in safety measures and delays in emergency response, saying firefighters reached the hospital about an hour after the blaze.

Officials said...