Jaipur, Rajasthan | The Unplanned News Desk:
A massive fire broke out late Sunday night in the Trauma ICU of Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, killing six patients and leaving five others critically injured.
The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, spread rapidly through the ICU ward filled with life-support equipment and oxygen lines, turning the hospital’s critical care unit into a death trap within minutes.
🕒 When and Where It Happened
According to hospital officials, the fire started around 12:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Trauma Centre, where 11 patients were admitted in the ICU and 13 others in the semi-ICU.
Thick smoke engulfed the entire ward within moments, making evacuation extremely difficult.
Several of the patients were in coma or on ventilators, unable to move or respond during the chaos.
⚰️ Victims Identified
Authorities confirmed the deaths of six patients:
- Pintu (Sikar)
- Dilip (Amer, Jaipur)
- Shrinath (Jaipur)
- Rukmini (Jaipur)
- Khurma (Bharatpur)
- Bahadur (Sanganer, Jaipur)
Five others are reported to be in critical condition and have been shifted to other hospital wards for emergency treatment.
🚒 Rescue and Firefighting Operations
Hospital staff and nurses immediately began shifting patients as soon as the fire alarm went off.
Multiple fire brigade units reached the hospital and managed to control the flames after nearly two hours of intense efforts.
Firefighters had to break ICU windows to vent out smoke and rescue trapped patients.
🏛️ Chief Minister Visits Site
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma rushed to the hospital shortly after the incident, meeting officials and victims’ families.
He expressed condolences and ordered a forensic (FSL) investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
A high-level inquiry committee has been set up to assess potential lapses in hospital safety protocols.
⚠️ Negligence Allegations
Relatives of the victims allege that the hospital staff ignored early warnings of smoke and a burning smell in the ICU.
“If patients had been evacuated on time, lives could have been saved,” said one grieving family member.
The hospital administration has denied negligence but said it will cooperate fully with the investigation.
🔍 Fire Safety Under Scrutiny
The incident has reignited debate over fire safety in government hospitals.
Experts have pointed out that many ICUs across India lack:
- Proper smoke exhaust systems
- Regular fire safety drills
- Timely electrical audits and maintenance
Calls are growing for the Rajasthan government to conduct mandatory safety inspections in all major healthcare facilities.
🕯️ A Wake-Up Call for Hospital Safety
The Massive Fire in Jaipur SMS Hospital ICU is a grim reminder of the urgent need to upgrade hospital infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
For families who lost their loved ones, questions remain — could this tragedy have been prevented?
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