Odisha

Close shave for Odisha MLA as bus with 36 passengers catches fire

As many as 37 passengers, including Odisha's Congress MLA Mangu Khila, had a narrow escape when the bus in which they were travelling from Bhubaneswar to Nabarangpur caught fire after a rear tyre burst early on Saturday, police said. The incident took place near Ramabhadrapuram in Andhra Pradesh. All the passengers and crew members were safely evacuated before the bus was completely gutted in the fire, Khila told reporters. Police said all the passengers, including the MLA, were safely evacuated without any injuries. The prompt response of the driver and the alertness of passengers helped avert a major tragedy, the police said, adding that fire services personnel and local authorities reached the spot and brought the fire under control, although the vehicle could not be saved. The MLA from Chitrakonda assembly segment in Malkangiri district said, "The bus caught fire when all the passengers, including me, were in deep sleep. The driver's presence of mind saved all. He stopped the b

Odisha enters Guinness records with Pakhala Divas, serves over 1 tonne

State serves over 1 tonne of fermented rice dish to 2,000 people, blending cultural celebration, sustainability and outreach while promoting Odia cuisine globally

Odisha loses ₹4,162 crore to iron ore undervaluation, steps up checks

State reports Rs 4,162 crore loss due to ore undervaluation, introduces AI-driven monitoring and stricter rules to curb misreporting and improve transparency in mining

Odisha tops India's mining economy, eastern region drives growth: Report

Odisha leads India's mining GVA with a 14% share, as eastern states emerge as key drivers of sector growth, according to an Assocham-ICRA report

Odisha unveils AI roadmap, to set up mission and labs across institutes

Odisha unveils AI policy roadmap with plans for AI Mission, research labs and innovation initiatives to drive governance, startups and digital ecosystem growth

Odisha govt suspends four officials over SCB Medical College fire tragedy

Disciplinary action follows preliminary findings of lapses after fire at SCB Medical College in Cuttack that killed 12; judicial probe also ordered

IMMT Bhubaneswar develops tech to make refractory bricks from bauxite waste

CSIR institute develops process to convert mining waste into high-performance bricks, offering cost benefits and industrial applications across key sectors

Odisha to take authentic Odia cuisine nationwide via restaurant chain plan

Odisha plans to promote its culinary heritage nationwide through dedicated restaurant chains across metros and tourist hubs, aiming to boost gastronomy tourism and cultural branding

Odisha coal ban deepens LPG crisis for food businesses, vendors seek help

Urban fuel restrictions and global LPG supply shocks have left nearly 30,000 vendors facing collapse of their livelihoods

Odisha Congress suspends 3 MLAs for cross-voting; BJD calls PAC meet

Odisha Congress suspends three MLAs over cross-voting in Rajya Sabha polls, while BJD calls a PAC meeting amid political tensions and reported dissent within ranks

Patnaik seeks Odisha health minister's resignation over hospital deaths

Odisha's Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling over the death of 12 people in the fire at the state-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Patnaik, who visited the hospital following the incident on Monday, raised the issue in the assembly during the Zero Hour. "He (minister) must take moral responsibility for this catastrophic lapse in safety oversight," the former CM said. "What I witnessed was not just a scene of a tragic accident, but a stark reminder of the crumbling safety standards in our state's premier healthcare institution," he added. Patnaik said the deceased were patients who came to the hospital with the hope of recovery, only to meet a horrific end due to "administrative negligence". "The Health Department cannot hide behind inquiries while families mourn. A judicial enquiry is welcome, but it does not absolve the political leadership of its responsibility," he said. Claiming that th

Death toll in massive fire at Odisha's SCB Medical College rises to 12

The toll in the devastating fire at government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital here climbed to 11 after one more patient succumbed to burn injuries on Tuesday, officials said. The deceased patient was identified as 20-year-old Pabitra Dosari, who hailed from Koraput district. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital when fire broke out at the trauma care ICU early on Monday. Ten patients were killed and 11 people injured in the incident on Monday. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Naveen Patnaik, visited the hospital on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also taken stock of the situation. The state government has constituted a judicial panel to probe the incident, and also formed a fact-finding team headed by Development Commissioner D K Singh that visited the hospital. The team will submit a report to the chief secretary. The blaze had erupted around 2.48 am on the first floor and is suspected to have been triggere

Four elected to Rajya Sabha from Odisha amid cross-voting allegations

Two BJP candidates, one BJD nominee and an Independent backed by BJP win seats as contest for fourth berth ends in a tie and is decided by second-preference votes

Centre discusses rare-earth corridor sites in Andhra, Odisha and Kerala

Centre discusses SOP for monazite handling, private participation as corridor plans move ahead

Odisha bio-refinery faces production delays due to tech challenges: Centre

Centre says commissioning of BPCL's second-generation ethanol bio-refinery in Odisha's Bargarh has been delayed due to pandemic disruptions and limited availability of specialised technology vendors

10 patients dead in fire at Odisha's Medical College, PM expresses grief

A fire in the ICU of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack killed 10 patients and injured 16 others, including staff. Odisha ordered a judicial probe as President Murmu, PM Modi expressed grief

10 dead, 11 injured in massive fire at Odisha's SCB Medical College

Ten people were killed after a major fire erupted in an ICU in Odisha government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in the wee hours of Monday, officials said. Around 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while rescuing patients to safety. The fire erupted at the ICU of the Trauma Care department of the hospital, where critically ill patients were being treated, an official said, adding that the fire broke out at around 2.30 and 3 am. Fire service personnel rushed to the hospital and doused the fire after launching an operation, the official said. The fire service officials, along with hospital staff and police, along with patients' attendants, rescued the patients undergoing treatment at the ICU and shifted them to other departments of the SCB hospital, which is a major state-run medical facility in Odisha. Soon after getting the news, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, visited the hospital and reviewed th

Odisha to utilise 3,047 acres UMPP land for Adani coal-to-chemicals complex

Odisha will utilise 3,047 acres acquired for a scrapped ultra mega power project in Sundargarh for Adani Enterprises' proposed Rs 84,000-crore coal-to-chemicals complex

Odisha Congress shifts MLAs to Karnataka resort ahead of Rajya Sabha polls

Nine Congress MLAs have been moved to a Karnataka resort amid fears of cross-voting and horse-trading ahead of the closely contested Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha

Man kills wife, daughter-in-law, granddaughter in Odisha village over feud

Police say a 52-year-old man allegedly killed his wife, daughter-in-law and four-year-old granddaughter with a hammer after a domestic quarrel in Deogarh district