At least eight patients lost their lives in a fire that broke out at the trauma centre of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur on Sunday night (October 5). At the time of the incident, 11 patients were admitted to the Neuro ICU.
The fire is reported to have originated in a storage area, though the exact cause is still under investigation. Initial reports suggest a short circuit could be responsible for the blaze.
Among the deceased, six have been identified as Pintu (Sikar), Dilip (Andhi, Jaipur), Shrinath, Rukmini, Khurma (all from Bharatpur), and Bahadur (Sanganer, Jaipur). Panic spread quickly as smoke engulfed the floor, forcing patients and their families to flee.
The blaze destroyed several documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes, and other items stored in the area. Hospital staff and patient attendants worked tirelessly to evacuate patients, even moving some on their beds outside the building, according to PTI reports.
Firefighters reached the scene shortly after the incident and managed to bring the fire under control in about two hours. Upon arrival, the ward was reportedly engulfed in dense smoke, requiring firefighters to break a window on the opposite side of the building to tackle the fire effectively.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham visited the trauma centre to assess the situation.
In a post on X, CM Sharma stated: "The incident of a fire at the trauma center of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is extremely unfortunate. Upon reaching the hospital, I gathered information from the doctors and officials and issued instructions to ensure swift relief efforts. Every possible step is being taken for the safety of patients, their treatment, and the care of those affected, and the situation is being continuously monitored. May Lord Shri Ram grant place at His divine feet to the departed souls. The state government stands with the affected families and is committed to providing them every possible assistance."
The hospital administration continues to investigate the cause of the fire, while relief and support efforts are underway for the affected patients and their families.
