Eight patients lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in the trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late on Sunday, 5 October. Hospital officials confirmed that more patients remain in critical condition. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital on Monday morning and ordered an investigation into the incident. A high-level six-member committee has been formed.
PM Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the fire incident in Jaipur on X. The PMO’s post on X reads, “The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon: PM."
Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital issued a statement confirming that the fire in Neuro Surgery ICU Number 1 was caused by a short circuit. At the time of the incident, 11 patients were in the ICU; all were evacuated, but six succumbed. The hospital’s trauma centre has four ICUs with a total of 46 beds, all of which were occupied. Overall, the trauma centre houses 284 beds – 250 general and 46 ICU – and all were full during the incident.
What happened at SMS Hospital?
According to SMS Hospital Trauma Centre In-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad, the blaze originated from a suspected short circuit in the trauma ICU on the hospital’s second floor. The fire spread rapidly, producing dense toxic fumes that filled the ward within minutes. At the time, 24 patients were admitted, out of which, 11 are in the trauma ICU and 13 in the adjacent semi-ICU.“Most of the patients were comatose and unable to move.
Our trauma centre team, including nursing officers and ward staff, immediately began evacuation using trolleys," Dr Dhakad said earlier. “We managed to shift as many patients as possible to safety, but six critically ill patients could not be revived despite CPR and all resuscitation efforts. "Among the deceased are two women and four men. The victims reportedly suffered from severe smoke inhalation and burn-related complications.
Firefighters and hospital staff worked together to control the flames and evacuate patients from adjoining areas. Authorities confirmed that all 24 patients were rescued from the two ICUs, though several had already been exposed to toxic gases before being moved.
Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said the FSL team’s investigation will reveal the cause of the fire. “At first glance, it appears to be a short circuit, but the final cause will only be determined after the FSL investigation. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the mortuary. Once everything is done, the post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted," adds Joseph.
According to a deceased’s kin, the ICU had no equipment to extinguish the blaze.
“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," said a grieving relative who lost his mother in the blaze at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. “We watched helplessly as smoke filled the ward. My mother couldn’t be saved," he added, recounting the chaos and despair of the night.
The Rajasthan government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the short circuit and assess any lapses in safety or electrical maintenance.
As the hospital continues treating the five critically injured patients, officials assured that fire safety protocols will be reviewed across all government hospitals in the state.
Source: News18