Six patients—two women and four men—died after thick smoke engulfed the ICU at SMS Trauma Centre, suspected to be triggered by a short circuit.
BY PC Bureau
October 6, 2025: A devastating fire tore through the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the trauma centre at Jaipur’s state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late Sunday night, killing six patients—two women and four men—and leaving several others critically injured.
The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, erupted on the second floor of the trauma building around 11:30 p.m. Thick smoke engulfed the ICU within minutes, causing panic among patients, their families, and hospital staff. A forensic investigation has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause.
At the time of the incident, 24 patients were admitted across two ICUs on the affected floor—11 in the trauma ICU and 13 in the semi-ICU. Most were in critical condition, many comatose.
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“Toxic fumes spread rapidly after the short circuit. Despite resuscitation attempts, six patients could not be saved. Five others remain in serious condition,” said Dr. Anurag Dhakad, head of the trauma centre.
Hospital staff and attendants scrambled to evacuate patients, some carried on stretchers and even hospital beds into the open. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control, but critical medical equipment, documents, blood samples, and ICU infrastructure were destroyed.
Jaipur hospital fire: Deceased’s kin allege staff ignored fire warnings.
6 patients in ICU passed away at SMS hospital. pic.twitter.com/o272SreUS9
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) October 6, 2025
Families Raise Negligence Claims
Several victims’ families accused hospital staff of abandoning patients during the emergency.
“We noticed smoke and informed the staff, but they ignored it. Once the fire broke out, they ran away. No one is telling us anything about our family members,” one relative told reporters.
Another grieving family member alleged there were no safety systems in place: “No extinguishers, no water, nothing. My mother didn’t survive because there were zero fire safety measures.”
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Political Leaders Visit, Inquiry Ordered
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham rushed to the hospital to review the situation. Families demanded accountability and greater transparency from hospital authorities.
Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed six deaths and said the remaining patients had been shifted to other wards. “Preliminary reports indicate a short circuit. A detailed forensic analysis is underway,” he said.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed condolences and urged the government to launch a high-level probe to prevent such tragedies.
