Jaipur: A night meant for quiet recovery turned into one of horror at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, where a devastating fire tore through the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the trauma centre late Sunday night, killing eight patients and injuring several others. Preliminary investigations point to a short circuit as the cause of the blaze, but survivors and grieving families allege gross negligence, lack of fire safety equipment, and a delayed response from hospital authorities.
For Narendra Singh, the tragedy struck while he was away for a brief moment. “There was a fire in the ICU, and I didn’t even know. I had gone downstairs to have dinner. There wasn’t any equipment to put out the fire no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there,” he recounted in anguish. By the time he rushed back upstairs, his mother had already succumbed to suffocation.
The fire broke out close to midnight, rapidly engulfing the trauma ICU where 11 patients were undergoing treatment. Another 13 patients in the adjacent semi-ICU were hastily evacuated as thick smoke filled the corridors. Many patients were carried outside by relatives and hospital staff, forced to wait helplessly on the road as rescue efforts unfolded amid chaos and panic.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and desperation. “When there was a spark, a cylinder nearby caught fire, and smoke spread through the ICU,” said Puran Singh, a relative of one patient. “Some managed to pull out their loved ones, but mine was left behind. When the gas spread, they shut the gates,” he added, voicing deep frustration at what he described as a failure of emergency response.
Om Prakash, who lost his 25-year-old cousin, said that despite early warnings, the hospital staff did not act swiftly. “Around 11:20 pm, I warned doctors that the smoke could make patients uncomfortable. They ignored it. By the time the smoke thickened, doctors and staff had already fled. Only a few patients were rescued. My cousin was about to be discharged in two days he was recovering,” he said, his voice breaking.
Similar stories emerged from other grieving families. Jogendra Singh, who lost his mother, claimed he had alerted doctors multiple times about the rising smoke. “I told them four or five times, but they dismissed it as normal. Then, suddenly, the whole area was filled with smoke. Staff members ran away. I begged the police outside, and they said everyone had been rescued but my mother and brother were still inside. I managed to pull my brother out, but he’s now in critical condition,” he said.
For Ranjit Singh Rathore, the night ended with unbearable grief. “I got a call around 11:30 pm. I rushed to the hospital, but they didn’t let me in at first. When I finally entered, I found my brother lying lifeless,” he said.
Another family, who had travelled from Agra for treatment, said their loved one suffocated after being trapped inside. “My sister Sarvesh had undergone head surgery and was unconscious when the fire started. Nobody heard us. She suffocated to death,” said Ramakant, her relative.
Hospital authorities, however, have rejected the allegations of negligence. Dr. Anurag Dhakad, in charge of the Trauma Centre, stated that the fire spread rapidly, making entry nearly impossible. “The smoke and toxic gases made it extremely difficult to rescue patients immediately. Still, our team and the ground staff, including ward boys, used fire extinguishers and called the fire brigade. Unfortunately, eight patients died due to burns and suffocation. We will know more after the post-mortem reports,” he said.
The bodies of the deceased are expected to be handed over to families following autopsy examinations. Officials confirmed that the fire brigade managed to bring the blaze under control after several hours, but questions remain over whether safety standards were met and if functioning fire suppression systems were available inside the ICU.
Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital shortly after midnight to assess the situation. Calling the incident “extremely unfortunate,” he said that all necessary steps were being taken for the safety, treatment, and care of affected patients. “I have directed officials to ensure immediate relief measures and continuous monitoring of the situation,” he posted on social media.
As investigations proceed, the tragedy at SMS Hospital has reignited a nationwide debate on fire safety preparedness in public hospitals, where overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate emergency systems have too often turned care centres into death traps. For the families who lost their loved ones, the fire has left behind not only ashes and debris but unanswered questions and an enduring sense of injustice.