JAIPUR: A fire at the Neuro Intensive Care Unit of SMS Medical College in Jaipur late Sunday night resulted in the deaths of eight critically ill patients. Six patients succumbed to the flames in the ICU, while two others died during their evacuation from a neighboring ICU. Five additional patients who were rescued from the affected ICU are currently in critical condition.
In response to the tragedy, the Rajasthan government announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for each family of the deceased and ordered a comprehensive fire and safety audit of all government hospitals.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a short-circuit in the ICU’s storage area. Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze went unnoticed for over 15 minutes, despite alarmed family members alerting hospital staff. Families of the victims accused the staff of ignoring their warnings and fleeing the area when the fire erupted.
SMS Hospital serves as the largest government-run facility in Rajasthan, treating critically ill patients referred from district hospitals. Following the incident, the state government removed SMS Hospital Superintendent Dr. Sushil Bhati and trauma center in-charge Dr. Anurag Dhakad from their positions. Executive Engineer Mukesh Singhal was suspended, and the contract of the fire safety agency, SK Electric Company, was terminated. An FIR has also been filed against the agency. Dr. Mrinal Joshi has been appointed as the new superintendent, while Dr. BL Yadav will take over as the trauma center in-charge.
During proceedings connected to the collapse of a government school building in Jhalawar, which resulted in the deaths of seven students in July, the Rajasthan High Court raised concerns about safety in government buildings, stating: “What is happening in government buildings? Fires are breaking out somewhere, buildings are collapsing somewhere.”
The victims of the fire included Pintu Gurjar from Sikar, as well as Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, and Shrinath, Rukmini, and Kusuma from Bharatpur. The hospital did not disclose the identities of the remaining two patients who died while being moved from ICU-II. That ICU had 13 patients, with 11 successfully evacuated, though they remain in critical condition.
Reports indicate that the fire began around 11:30 PM, with smoke seen billowing from the second-floor windows. Relatives of patients in the Neuro ICU alerted hospital staff to the situation. The first fire engine arrived around 11:45 PM, and seven fire tenders were deployed, but the blaze was only contained by 1:30 AM.
Complications arose as witnesses noted that fire extinguishers and other safety equipment appeared to be non-functional. Vikram, the brother of deceased patient Pintu Gurjar, stated, “We saw smoke and then flames rapidly spreading. People, including hospital staff, were running here and there in panic.” Gurjar, who had been hospitalized for a brain tumor and was reportedly due for discharge soon, was identified as one of the victims.
Dr. Dhakad confirmed that six patients, two of whom were women, died due to asphyxiation or burn injuries. He added that evacuation efforts intensified as the fire spread, involving both hospital staff and police.
Attendant Abdul Naushad, who was in the vicinity when the fire started, recounted, “I was on the ground floor when I heard screams and saw people running down from the ICU.” Others carried patients down the stairs as they attempted to flee the flames. A ward boy involved in the rescue operations noted that while they saved several patients at first, they had to retreat as the fire escalated.
Expressing his condolences via social media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked, “The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.” Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a six-member panel to investigate the incident.
