Tragedy in Jaipur’s SMS Hospital ICU: 8 Dead After Midnight Fire, Staff Allegedly Fled Scene
Fire Breaks Out in Trauma Center ICU at Midnight
A massive fire broke out late Sunday night in the trauma center ICU of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, resulting in the deaths of eight patients, including three women.
According to reports, the fire started around 11:20 PM in the storeroom of the Neuro ICU ward, where papers, ICU equipment, and blood sample tubes were stored.
The hospital’s nodal officer and senior doctor stated that a short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire. At the time of the incident, there were 11 patients in the affected ICU and 13 more in the adjacent ICU.
Firefighters: “The Entire Ward Was Filled With Smoke”
Fire department personnel Avdhesh Pandey told Bhaskar that the team rushed to the scene as soon as the alarm was raised.
“The entire ward was engulfed in thick smoke, making it impossible to enter,” he said.
Rescuers had to break the glass windows on the opposite side of the building and spray water from there. It took nearly one and a half hours to bring the blaze under control. All patients, along with their hospital beds, were moved outside into the corridor during the evacuation.
Family’s Allegation: ‘We Warned Staff 20 Minutes Before Fire Erupted’
Sheru, a resident of Bharatpur and relative of one of the patients, claimed that smoke was visible 20 minutes before the fire started.
“We informed the staff, but they ignored us,” he said.
By 11:20 PM, the smoke intensified, and plastic tubes began melting and falling. Sheru alleged that the ward boys fled the scene as the fire spread.
“We somehow managed to save our patient with great difficulty. Nearly two hours later, they were shifted to the ground floor. Even now, we have no update about their condition and are not being allowed to see them,” he added.
Victims of the Tragic Incident
The eight deceased patients have been identified as:
- Pintu, resident of Sikar
- Dilip, resident of Andhi, Jaipur
- Shrinath, resident of Bharatpur
- Rukmani, resident of Bharatpur
- Kushma, resident of Bharatpur
- Bahadur, resident of Sanganer, Jaipur
(Names of two others are yet to be officially confirmed.)
Authorities Probe Cause of Fire
Preliminary investigation points to a short circuit in the ICU’s storeroom, though officials have launched a detailed inquiry. The incident has raised serious questions about fire safety measures and emergency response protocols at one of Rajasthan’s largest government hospitals.
