Jaipur witnessed deadly tragedy late Sunday night when a massive fire erupted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the trauma centre at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, the city’s largest government medical facility. At least eight patients lost their lives in the blaze, sparking widespread outrage and raising questions about hospital safety measures.
The victims have been identified as Pintu from Sikar, Dileep from Aandhi, Jaipur, Shrinath, Rukmani, and Kushma from Bharatpur, Sarvesh from Agra, UP, Bahadur from Sanganer, Jaipur, and Digambar Verma. The fire reportedly began around 11:20 p.m. in the neuro ICU store room, which contained medical records, equipment, and blood sample containers. Early reports suggest a short circuit may have sparked the fire, though investigations are ongoing.
At the time of the incident, 11 patients were in the affected ICU, while another 13 were in a nearby ward. By the time firefighters reached the scene, thick, toxic smoke had engulfed the ICU, forcing crews to break windows on the opposite side of the building to douse the flames. It took nearly two hours to fully extinguish the fire.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as family members tried to rescue critically ill patients, some of whom were comatose or otherwise immobile. Several relatives accused hospital staff of inaction and abandoning patients during the emergency. “We noticed smoke and alerted the staff, but they did nothing. When the fire started, they ran, leaving the patients behind,” one relative said.
Families also reported that the ICU lacked functioning firefighting equipment, with no extinguishers, water sources, or fire alarms visible. “There was no way to stop the fire,” a grieving family member said.
The tragedy has drawn immediate attention from state authorities. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site on Monday and announced a high-level inquiry into the incident, focusing on the cause of the fire, hospital emergency response, and fire safety preparedness. The Chief Minister also cancelled a planned trip to Delhi in response to the crisis.
National leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The incident has renewed concerns about patient safety standards in government hospitals, with authorities under pressure to ensure accountability and prevent such disasters in the future.
