News Brief
Jaipur Hospital Fire Claims Eight Lives In SMS Trauma Centre ICU, PM Offers Condolences
(Representative image)
A devastating fire at the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur claimed the lives of eight critically ill patients late on Sunday (5 October) night, according to a PTI report.
The blaze broke out in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, where 11 patients were undergoing treatment. Trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad said a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the incident.
The fire spread quickly, filling the floor with thick smoke and causing panic among patients and their families.
Hospital records, equipment, and blood sample tubes were destroyed, while desperate staff and attendants rushed to evacuate patients, many wheeled out still on their beds.
Firefighters, who arrived soon after being alerted, battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control.
Vikas, a ward boy who helped in the rescue effort, told PTI, “We were inside the operating theatre when we heard about the fire, so we immediately rushed to rescue the people inside the centre. We managed to save at least three to four patients. However, as the flames intensified, we could no longer go into the building. We did our best to rescue as many as we could.”
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, visited the trauma centre to assess the situation.
However, some relatives expressed anger, alleging staff negligence during the crisis. One attendant said, “We noticed smoke and immediately informed the staff, but they did not pay any heed. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy.
"The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon", PM Modi said on X.
