On the night of October 5, 2025, a devastating fire broke out in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Jaipur’s government-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, claiming the lives of at least six critically ill patients. The fire, suspected to be caused by a short circuit in the ICU storeroom, engulfed the ward in thick smoke rapidly, trapping patients and hindering rescue efforts.

Eleven patients were admitted at the time, with six succumbing to the fire while others were critically injured. Families have accused hospital staff of abandoning patients during the blaze, allegations denied by officials who said rescue operations were swift.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and assured support for the bereaved families and the injured.

The Tragedy and Its Immediate Aftermath

The fire erupted around 11:20 p.m. on October 5, inside the storage room adjacent to the Neurosurgery ICU on the second floor of the SMS Hospital trauma centre. According to hospital sources and the fire department, the suspected cause of the blaze was a short circuit amid stored items including medical consumables and paperwork that quickly caught fire.

The fire and toxic smoke spread rapidly through the ICU ward, which had 11 patients at the time, many of them in critical condition and unable to evacuate on their own.

Rescue efforts were intense but chaotic, involving hospital staff, police officers, fire brigade personnel, and even family members who assisted in evacuating patients. Some patients were carried out on beds to the ground floor, and others were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency care. Despite these efforts, six patients tragically died from burns and smoke inhalation.

The fire also caused extensive damage, destroying ICU beds and essential medical equipment. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after nearly two hours, with the hospital declaring a state of emergency and initiating treatment for the survivors.

Accusations of Negligence and Staff Conduct

In the aftermath, families of the victims voiced deep anguish and anger, accusing hospital personnel of negligence and abandonment. Many alleged that some staff fled the scene instead of aiding critically ill patients, worsening the tragedy. Relatives described harrowing conditions inside the ICU during the fire, highlighting the distress of patients trapped in smoke-filled rooms with limited assistance.

Conversely, hospital officials and authorities refuted these allegations, stating that hospital emergency protocols were activated promptly and that staff worked alongside rescue teams to evacuate patients as quickly as possible.

According to SMS Hospital Superintendent Dr Achal Sharma, despite the challenging conditions, the response was as swift and organised as circumstances allowed. Nevertheless, an inquiry has been ordered to investigate these claims thoroughly and hold accountable anyone found negligent.

Government Response and Probe Orders

The incident prompted an immediate response from Rajasthan’s political leadership. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital site, expressing condolences to the families of those lost and reassuring the public of transparent investigation procedures.

He ordered a probe led by a committee from the Medical Education Department to examine the causes of the fire, the adequacy and functioning of fire safety measures, staff preparedness, and evacuation procedures.

The government has also pledged to provide medical and financial support to the injured patients and the families of the deceased. This tragedy has reignited demands from health experts and activists for stricter fire safety audits in all government hospitals, improved infrastructure, timely maintenance of electrical systems, and comprehensive training of hospital staff in emergency response.

Background: Safety Challenges in Public Hospitals

The incident at SMS Hospital raises critical questions about fire safety standards in India’s public health system. Reports indicate that many government hospitals, including SMS, operate in ageing infrastructure poorly equipped to handle emergencies such as fires. Previous inspections have flagged inadequate fire prevention measures, faulty wiring, insufficient safety drills, and lack of proper evacuation plans.

This tragedy also sheds light on the chronic underinvestment and resource constraints faced by state-run hospitals, often resulting in overcrowded wards and compromised patient safety. Experts argue that preventing such disasters will require systemic reforms including infrastructure modernisation, strict enforcement of safety norms, continuous staff education, and robust accountability mechanisms.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The loss of six vulnerable lives in a place meant to offer healing and care is a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of systemic negligence. The Logical Indian believes that patient safety must be enshrined as a non-negotiable pillar of healthcare, especially in critical care units where lives hang in fragile balance. This incident underscores the urgent need for transparent investigations and accountability to prevent repeat tragedies.

Moreover, this moment demands a collective commitment-from policymakers, hospital administrations, healthcare workers, and citizens-to foster a culture of safety, empathy, and responsiveness within our hospitals. Constructive dialogue and cooperation can drive reforms that ensure hospitals are sanctuaries of hope, not sites of sorrow.

Jaipur: A massive fire blazed through the neuro ICU of Jaipur’s state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in the dead of the night, killing six patients on critical care support, officials said on Monday.

Eleven patients were being treated in the ICU at the time, said trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dakhad. The fire, which erupted in the storage area around midnight, is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.

The flames spread fast and rescuers could pull out only five patients.

“Six people, two women and four men died, and five are undergoing treatment,” Dhakad said. “Fourteen other patients were admitted in a different ICU, and all were successfully evacuated to safer locations,” he added.

Walls blackened with smoke and soot, equipment twisted out of shape in the heat and shattered glass told the tale of the horrors that unfolded when the fire broke out.

Though some reports claimed eight patients died in the fire, Dhakad and hospital superintendent Sushil Bhati maintained that the number of deaths was six.

Expressing grief over the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an X post in Hindi, “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.” The state government has formed a high-level committee to probe the incident.

SMS hospital is Rajasthan’s biggest government health facility, treating patients from across the state and elsewhere.

The deceased were identified as Pintu from Sikar, Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, and Shrinath, Rukmini and Kusuma from Bharatpur.

Anguished relatives held a brief protest and alleged that authorities were negligent, ignoring warnings and fleeing instead of rescuing the ailing and sick.

Among them was Rukmini’s son Joginder.

“My mother was recovering and was supposed to be fine. But this disaster happened. When the smoke started, there were 15 to 16 people in the ward. People were trying to evacuate their own patients,” he said.

“No one helped my mother. My elder brother grabbed a torch from the hospital staff, found our mother, and brought her out. No one went to help her. I could not save her and could not do anything,” he told reporters.

Omprakash, whose brother Pintu was killed, said the fire spread rapidly.

“My brother was still inside. It took an hour and a half before they managed to pull Pintu out of the room. His body was not burned, but his face was completely blackened from the smoke. When we took him outside, there were no doctors present,” he alleged.

The trauma centre building is in front of the main hospital building on busy Tonk Road.

Hospital staff and attendants evacuated patients with some wheeling beds outside the building. Firefighters brought the fire under control in around two hours, official said.

Vikas, a ward boy who was at the scene, told PTI that he and other staff members rescued as many people as they could before the billowing flames and smoke made it impossible for them to do so.

“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,” he said.

Police could not enter the building immediately due to the heavy smoke, he added.

By the time the fire team arrived, the entire ward was engulfed in smoke. Firefighters had to break a window to start extinguishing the fire, he said.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham were among those who visited the trauma centre to take stock of the situation.

When Patel and Bedham reached the spot, relatives of some patients alleged that the staff had ignored early warning and fled during the fire. They also claimed that the hospital staff could not provide updates on the patients’ condition.

“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. Now, we cannot get any information about our patients. We want to know their condition, but no one is telling us,” said an attendant.

The chief minister, who spoke to doctors and patients, termed the incident extremely unfortunate and assured that immediate relief measures were being taken.

The state government appointed committee, headed by the commissioner of the Medical Education Department, Iqbal Khan, will look into the causes of the fire, the hospital’s preparedness and response to the emergency, safety measures, and steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

Describing the situation as heartbreaking, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “It is extremely unfortunate that the families of the victims are angry with the way they have been treated by the state government. They said that no government representative has approached them or spoken to them so far.”

Gehlot demanded from the state government to form a judicial commission to thoroughly investigate the incident.

AICC general secretary and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot also visited the hospital and expressed sorrow over the incident.

“This disaster has undoubtedly been caused due to negligence in one of the state’s most renowned hospitals,” he said, calling for accountability and swift action.

Director General of Police Rajeev Sharma also visited the hospital and said that he has instructed the Jaipur Police commissioner to form a special team having experts from FSL and fire department to thoroughly investigate the case.

On October 5, a fire tore through the trauma ICU of Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, claiming six lives and leaving five patients in critical condition. The incident, which reportedly began around 11:20 pm on the hospital’s second floor, has raised serious questions about hospital safety protocols, staff preparedness, and emergency response measures.

According to SMS Hospital Trauma Centre In-charge Anurag Dhakad, the fire originated in the trauma ICU and spread with alarming speed, releasing toxic gases that endangered all patients in its path. “Our trauma centre has two ICUs on the second floor: a trauma ICU and a semi-ICU. We had 24 patients there 11 in the trauma ICU and 13 in the semi-ICU. A short circuit occurred in the trauma ICU, and the fire spread rapidly, releasing toxic gases,” Dhakad said. He added that most patients were comatose and unable to move, and despite the immediate intervention of hospital staff, six critically ill patients could not be revived. The deceased included four men and two women, while five others remain in critical condition.

#WATCH | SMS Hospital fire, Jaipur | “… The ICU caught fire. There was no equipment to extinguish it. There were no cylinders or even water to douse the fire. There were no facilities. My mother passed away…,” says a person who lost a family member in the fire at Jaipur’s… pic.twitter.com/BCV2Sa9jMT — ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Relatives of the patients have recounted harrowing experiences that expose apparent lapses in safety measures and hospital negligence. Puran Singh, whose relative was admitted to the ICU, said, “When there was a spark, there was a cylinder beside it. Smoke spread throughout the ICU, causing everyone to flee in panic. Some managed to rescue their own patients, but mine was left alone in the room. As the gas spread further, they shut the gates.”

Narendra Singh, another relative, alleged, “There wasn’t even any equipment to douse the fire. My mother was admitted there, and the staff had no facilities to handle such a situation.” Om Prakash described watching helplessly as smoke engulfed the ICU: “By the time it intensified, doctors and compounders had already fled. Only four to five patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt’s son, who was about to recover and be discharged in two to three days, lost his life.”

Jogendra Singh alleged repeated warnings to hospital staff were ignored. “I alerted the doctors four to five times about the spark, but they dismissed it. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all staff ran out, leaving no one to save my mother. I managed to rescue my brother, who is now in critical condition, but my mother remained trapped.”

The incident sparked immediate outrage, with relatives and local residents staging protests outside SMS Hospital, accusing the administration and the Rajasthan government of negligence. Protestors claimed that if proper safety measures and prompt emergency action had been in place, the loss of lives could have been prevented.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.

A six-member committee has been constituted to examine the circumstances leading to the blaze. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner, Medical Education Department, and will include senior officials from hospital administration, engineering, and fire safety departments.

#WATCH | Jaipur | Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma arrived at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMS) to review the situation after a massive fire broke out pic.twitter.com/vhqY5S7p7m — ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2025

The committee has been tasked with investigating multiple aspects of the incident, including the causes of the fire, the hospital management’s response, the adequacy of firefighting arrangements at the Trauma Centre and SMS Hospital, the safety and evacuation procedures for patients in the event of a fire, and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The panel is expected to submit a comprehensive report detailing its findings and recommendations to prevent recurrence.

SMS Hospital fire, Jaipur | Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma ordered an investigation into the incident. A committee has been announced for the investigation. The committee will be chaired by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner, Medical Education Department. This committee will… pic.twitter.com/n0Ln6Unvfb — ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident, tweeting, “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.”

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 @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 6, 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah , expressed grief over the death of six people due to a fire at the ICU at the trauma centre of Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for a speedy recovery of the injured.

In a post on social media X, he wrote, “The incident of a fire breaking out at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur is tragic. The local administration is taking every possible step for the safety of patients, their treatment, and the care of those affected. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their lives in this accident. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

जयपुर के सवाई मानसिंह अस्पताल में आग लगने की घटना दुःखद है। स्थानीय प्रशासन मरीजों की सुरक्षा, इलाज और प्रभावित लोगों की देखभाल के लिए हर संभव कदम उठा रहा है। जिन लोगों ने इस हादसे में अपनी जान गँवाईं हैं, मेरी संवेदनाएँ उनके परिजनों के साथ हैं। घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की… — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 6, 2025

CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited SMS Hospital and assured that all injured patients would receive proper treatment and care. “Every possible step is being taken for the safety, treatment, and care of the affected patients. The state government stands with the families to provide every possible assistance,” he wrote on X. Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa, accompanying the CM, also reviewed the relief operations and met with patients and their families.

जयपुर के सवाई मानसिंह अस्पताल के ट्रॉमा सेंटर में आग लगने की घटना अत्यंत दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। अस्पताल पहुंचकर चिकित्सकों एवं अधिकारियों से जानकारी ली और त्वरित राहत कार्य सुनिश्चित करने के निर्देश दिए। मरीजों की सुरक्षा, इलाज और प्रभावित लोगों की देखभाल के लिए हर संभव कदम उठाए जा… — Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) October 6, 2025

Police confirmed that a short circuit is the likely cause of the fire, but the FSL investigation will determine the exact reason. Rescue operations were completed shortly after the fire was brought under control.

At least six people died late Sunday night (5th October, 2025) after a massive fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Trauma centre at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, quickly spread through the ward, trapping several critically ill patients.

According to police officials, the incident occurred around 11:20 p.m. on October 5. Firefighters rushed to the scene but faced difficulties accessing the smoke-filled ICU, forcing them to break windowpanes to rescue patients. The fire was brought under control within two hours, but by then, six to eight patients had lost their lives, and several others sustained serious injuries.

Authorities confirmed that six people were killed, while at least five others remain in critical condition. Most victims were comatose or severely ill patients undergoing treatment in the ICU.

As the fire spread rapidly, medical staff and firefighters evacuated patients—many of whom were still in their hospital beds—to safety outside the building. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and panic as attendants and relatives rushed to locate their loved ones.

Families of the victims have accused hospital authorities of negligence. Several attendants claimed that they had alerted staff earlier about sparks and electrical faults in the ICU’s storage area. They also alleged that the fire alarm system failed to activate initially, and there was a delay in shutting down the oxygen supply, which worsened the blaze.

Some staff members reportedly fled the scene when the fire erupted. Protests broke out outside SMS Hospital early Monday morning, with patients’ relatives demanding accountability and improved safety measures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families. “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,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the hospital soon after the incident and met with doctors, officials, and the families of patients. CM Sharma has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A six-member committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire, evaluate fire safety preparedness, and identify any lapses in the hospital’s response system.

The SMS Hospital is Rajasthan’s largest government-run medical institution, housing over 210 patients in multiple ICUs at the time of the incident. The tragedy has reignited concerns over fire safety standards in hospitals across India, many of which have witnessed similar incidents in recent years due to short circuits and inadequate emergency systems.

Jaipur Hospital Fire: Rajasthan Govt Confirms 6 Deaths, Denies Earlier Reports Of 8 Fatalities | ANI

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Monday confirmed that six people lost their lives in the fire that broke out at the Trauma Centre of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur.

The official confirmation came after initial reports from hospital sources claimed the death toll had risen to eight.

State officials have now clarified that six deaths have been verified.

Jaipur, Rajasthan: Jaipur, Rajasthan : Six people died after a fire broke out in the ICU ward of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the site pic.twitter.com/TKNfIcmJlV — IANS (@ians_india) October 6, 2025

In a statement on Monday, the State Health Department named the deceased as Pintu (25) from Sikar, Dilip (40) from Jaipur, Shri Nath (54) from Bharatpur, Rukmani (45) from Bharatpur, Bahadur (40) from Jaipur, and Kusuma (54) from Bharatpur.

These individuals were among the critically ill patients admitted to the Neurosurgery ICU-1 at the time of the incident on late Sunday night.

About The Incident

According to hospital authorities, the fire erupted around 11.20 p.m. on Sunday, believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the ICU’s storeroom.

The room quickly filled with dense smoke, leading to chaos and suffocation in the ICU. There were 11 patients in the Neuro ICU at the time; all were evacuated, but six succumbed, reportedly due to smoke inhalation and related complications.

#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan | A massive fire broke out in an ICU ward of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, claiming the lives of six patients pic.twitter.com/CBM6vcTMfZ — ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2025

The Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute within SMS Hospital has a total of 284 beds, including 46 ICU beds and six general wards where approximately 250 patients are housed at any given time.

The hospital also operates eight operation theatres, performing 40 to 60 surgeries daily, highlighting the facility’s critical role in emergency and trauma care. Officials noted that the quick response by the fire brigade, hospital staff, local citizen security volunteers, and police administration played a crucial role in containing the fire and preventing it from spreading further into the ICU and adjoining wards.

#WATCH | SMS Hospital fire, Jaipur | “… The ICU caught fire. There was no equipment to extinguish it. There were no cylinders or even water to douse the fire. There were no facilities. My mother passed away…,” says a person who lost a family member in the fire at Jaipur’s… pic.twitter.com/BCV2Sa9jMT — ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

The state government has launched an official inquiry into the incident.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has already begun collecting evidence to determine the exact cause and identify any lapses in safety protocols.

The tragedy has raised serious questions about hospital infrastructure and emergency preparedness in one of Rajasthan’s largest and busiest medical institutions, said family members of the victim who were sitting on a dharna demanding justice into the incident.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)