Tragic Fire at Jaipur Hospital Claims Lives of Six Patients

Fire Incident at SMS Hospital

Jaipur, Oct 6: A devastating fire erupted late Sunday night at the trauma center of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, resulting in the deaths of six critically ill patients, including two women.

Officials have identified the victims as Pintu from Sikar, Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, and Shrinath, Rukmini, and Khurma from Bharatpur.

While some reports suggested that eight patients perished in the blaze, Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the trauma center in-charge, along with hospital superintendent Dr. Sushil Bhati, confirmed that the death toll stands at six.

"The incident claimed the lives of two women and four men. Fourteen other patients were successfully moved to a different ICU for safety," Dr. Dhakad stated.

He elaborated that 11 patients were in the Neuro ICU when the fire broke out, which is believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the storage area.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as thick smoke rapidly filled the area, causing panic among patients and their families. Many documents, ICU equipment, and medical supplies were reportedly destroyed in the fire.

Hospital staff and attendants worked to evacuate patients, with some using beds to transport them outside. Firefighters managed to control the blaze within approximately two hours.

Vikas, a ward boy present during the incident, recounted how he and his colleagues rushed to rescue patients as soon as they learned of the fire. "We were in the operating theatre when we heard about the fire and immediately went to help. We managed to save three to four patients, but as the flames grew, we could no longer enter the building," he explained.

He noted that police arrived later but were unable to enter due to the heavy smoke.

One attendant expressed frustration, stating, "We noticed smoke and alerted the staff, but they ignored us. When the fire broke out, they were the first to flee. We are now left without any information about our patients' conditions."

In response to the tragedy, the state government has announced the formation of a committee to investigate the incident thoroughly. This committee will assess the fire's causes, the hospital's emergency preparedness, safety protocols, and measures to prevent future occurrences.

The committee will be led by Iqbal Khan, the commissioner of the Medical Education Department, and is expected to provide a detailed report following a site inspection.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, stating, "The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured."

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham, visited the trauma center to assess the situation and speak with doctors and patients.

Upon their arrival, relatives of patients voiced their distress, accusing the staff of ignoring early warnings and fleeing during the fire. They also claimed that hospital staff failed to provide updates on the patients' conditions.

AICC general secretary and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot also visited the hospital, expressing his sorrow over the incident and calling for accountability. "This disaster has undoubtedly been caused by negligence in one of the state's most renowned hospitals," he remarked.