GG News Bureau
Jaipur, 6th Oct: At least six critically ill patients lost their lives after a fire broke out late Sunday night at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, officials confirmed.
The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in the storage area, spread quickly to the Neuro ICU where 11 patients were undergoing treatment. Trauma centre in-charge Dr. Anurag Dhakad said six patients — identified as Pintu from Sikar, Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, and Shrinath, Rukmini, and Khurma from Bharatpur — died in the incident. Fourteen other patients admitted in another ICU were safely evacuated.
The fire caused chaos as thick smoke engulfed the ward, forcing patients and attendants to rush outside. Hospital staff and ward boys wheeled beds out of the ICU before firefighters arrived. “We managed to save at least three to four patients before the flames worsened,” said Vikas, a ward boy. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about two hours after breaking a window to gain access.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on X, calling the tragedy “deeply saddening” and extending condolences to the bereaved families. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham visited the hospital to review the situation. Relatives of patients expressed anger, alleging staff ignored early warnings of smoke and fled during the fire.
Sharma termed the incident “extremely unfortunate” and assured that the government is ensuring patient safety and immediate relief measures. A high-level committee headed by Medical Education Department Commissioner Iqbal Khan has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire, the hospital’s preparedness, and lapses in emergency response.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot described the incident as heartbreaking and demanded a thorough probe. Leader of the opposition Tikaram Jully claimed the toll could be eight, while AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot, who visited the hospital, alleged negligence and demanded accountability.
The fire also destroyed vital documents, ICU equipment, and medical supplies, raising further concerns about safety protocols at one of Rajasthan’s premier hospitals.
