8 Dead After Massive Fire Engulfs ICU At Jaipur’s SMS Hospital, CM Visits Site
Eight patients died after a massive fire broke out in the trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of Jaipur’s prestigious Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late on Sunday night. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, left several other patients in critical condition and has raised serious questions about the hospital’s fire safety preparedness.The fire reportedly originated on the hospital’s second floor around midnight and spread rapidly through the trauma ICU, filling the ward with dense, toxic smoke.
At the time, 24 patients were admitted across the main ICU and an adjacent semi-ICU. Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the Trauma Centre In-charge, stated that the hospital staff immediately began evacuating the patients, most of whom were comatose and unable to move on their own. While rescue efforts were underway, eight critically ill patients could not be saved, succumbing to severe smoke inhalation and burn-related complications.In the chaotic aftermath, grieving relatives leveled serious accusations of negligence. One man who lost his mother in the blaze alleged a complete lack of safety equipment.
“The ICU caught fire, but there was nothing to stop it. No fire extinguishers, no oxygen cylinders, not even water to douse the flames. There were simply no facilities,” he said, recounting the horror of watching helplessly as smoke engulfed the ward.Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital on Monday morning to take stock of the situation. The state government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and identify any lapses in safety protocols or electrical maintenance.
Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed that a forensic team is investigating, but initial reports point towards a short circuit. “The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary,” he added.As the hospital continues to treat the critically injured, officials have assured that fire safety protocols will be reviewed across all government hospitals in the state to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.
