Six critically ill patients died after a fire broke out late Sunday night in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, one of the largest state-run medical facilities in Jaipur, western India.
The fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, began in the storage area of the trauma centre’s ICU shortly before midnight. Eleven patients were in the ward at the time. The victims include four men and two women.
As the blaze spread, thick smoke filled the ward, prompting the emergency evacuation of 14 patients from a nearby ICU. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly two hours before bringing the situation under control, according to reports from news agency PTI.
Images from the scene showed charred beds, broken equipment, and smoke-blackened walls, reflecting the intensity of the fire.
Accusations of Negligence
Relatives of the deceased have accused hospital staff of negligence, alleging that warnings were ignored and emergency systems were lacking.
“We saw smoke and alerted the staff, but no one took action until it was too late,” one family member told PTI. “They ran out first when the fire started.”
Another relative, who lost his mother in the incident, told ANI that there were no functioning fire extinguishers or emergency water sources in the ward.
However, hospital officials have strongly denied these claims.
“I understand the pain and grief, but the accusations are not true,” said Jagdish Modi, the hospital’s deputy superintendent. “Many staff members risked their lives to evacuate patients and contain the fire.”
Government Response
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has ordered a formal investigation into the tragedy.
“Every possible step is being taken to ensure patient safety and proper care for those affected. The situation is being closely monitored,” he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences on social media platform X:
“My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones. Prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”
A Pattern of Hospital Fires
Tragic hospital fires are not uncommon in India. In November 2024, a blaze at a government hospital in Jhansi killed 10 newborns. An investigation by The Indian Express last year found that between 2019 and 2023, 11 major hospital fires killed at least 107 people, often due to repeated lapses in fire safety, inadequate oversight, and slow legal accountability.
Of the 11 fires reviewed, eight were linked to electrical short circuits and nine hospitals lacked basic firefighting systems.
The Jaipur incident adds to growing concerns over safety standards in India’s public healthcare infrastructure.
