In a horrifying late-night fire at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, eight patients tragically lost their lives after flames tore through the Neuro ICU of the hospital’s Trauma Centre. The incident, which occurred just before midnight on Sunday, has triggered widespread public outrage, with grieving families accusing the hospital administration of delayed response, untrained staff, and poor fire safety preparedness.
The fire reportedly broke out around 11:20 p.m. in a storeroom next to the Neuro ICU, where combustible materials like paper files, chemicals, and blood sample tubes were kept. Within minutes, thick smoke had engulfed the ICU, home to 11 critically ill patients, most of them unconscious and dependent on life-support systems.
A short circuit is the suspected cause, although the exact trigger will only be confirmed following a forensic investigation by the state’s Fire and Emergency Services and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
Chaotic Night of Horror
Eyewitnesses and hospital staff describe scenes of panic and helplessness. The fire spread so quickly that escape routes were blocked by smoke, and visibility dropped to near zero. Firefighters had to break windows from the rear side of the ICU to gain access and use water hoses. Evacuating patients was a near-impossible task, especially those on ventilators or in comas.
“Smoke started coming from one corner. At first, we thought it was something minor. But in minutes, we couldn’t breathe or see. We screamed for help,” said one of the hospital attendants who was helping shift patients at the time.
Families of the deceased, some of whom had been attending to their relatives just moments before the fire, allege that alarms didn’t go off and medical staff fled the scene in fear, leaving patients unattended.
“They didn’t even try. Doctors and ward staff ran away while our people were left to die,” said the brother of one of the deceased patients, visibly shaken.
Victims and Their Stories
The eight deceased patients include individuals from Jaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, and Sikar. Several of them were recovering from strokes, head injuries, or post-surgical complications. Their immobility rendered them especially vulnerable when the fire struck.
Three other patients remain in critical condition at the hospital. Many were rescued thanks to the desperate efforts of family members, ward boys, and paramedics who acted before the fire brigade arrived.
Names of the deceased have been identified as Pintu (Sikar), Bahadur (Jaipur), Sarvesh (Agra), Shrinath, Rukmani, Kushma (Bharatpur), Digambar Verma, and Dileep (Jaipur).
Negligence or Accident? Probe Underway
A six-member panel, headed by the Commissioner of Medical Education, has been formed to investigate the tragedy. The committee includes senior engineers, hospital administrators, and fire safety officials. Their brief is to examine the cause of the fire, the condition of fire safety systems in the ICU, and staff preparedness during emergencies.
Preliminary observations point to severe lapses:
- The fire alarm system either failed or wasn’t operational at the time.
- The oxygen supply system, which could have worsened the fire, was not shut down immediately.
- Fire extinguishers were not found near the point of origin.
- Emergency exits were either locked or inaccessible due to smoke.
Officials have not ruled out criminal negligence if lapses are confirmed.
Chief Minister’s Visit and Political Fallout
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the SMS Hospital early Monday morning and met with the families of the victims. He announced compensation and assured the public of a fair and transparent probe.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. Those found guilty of negligence will be held accountable,” he said. Sharma also cancelled his scheduled events for the day.
Opposition leaders, including former CM Ashok Gehlot, demanded a judicial probe and questioned why India’s premier government hospital had no functioning fire response system in one of its most sensitive wards.
Need for Systemic Reform
Experts point out that this is not the first hospital fire in India in recent years. In fact, fires in ICU wards are alarmingly frequent, with the combination of oxygen-rich environments, overburdened infrastructure, and poorly maintained wiring turning critical care units into potential fire traps.
“This isn’t just a Jaipur issue. There’s a national crisis in hospital safety preparedness,” said Dr. P.S. Rawat, a retired fire safety auditor. “There needs to be a mandatory quarterly audit of ICU and trauma wards.”
Activists and health watchdogs are now demanding a statewide safety audit of all government-run hospitals.
