Jaipur SMS Hospital Fire: 8 Dead in ICU Blaze

Tragic Jaipur Hospital Fire: 8 Lives Lost in SMS ICU Blaze, Probe Ordered

A devastating fire ripped through the trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late on October 5, 2025, claiming eight lives and leaving several others in dire straits, hospital authorities reported. The inferno, suspected to stem from an electrical short circuit on the second-floor ward, engulfed the area in thick, poisonous smoke, trapping vulnerable patients who were mostly unconscious and immobile. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma rushed to the site on October 6 morning, announcing a thorough probe via a six-member expert panel to unearth lapses in safety measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed profound grief via X, mourning the "heartbreaking" casualties and wishing swift recovery for the wounded, amplifying national outrage over recurring hospital fire incidents in India.

The jaipur hospital fire sms icu catastrophe unfolded around 11 PM, turning a sanctuary for the critically ill into a scene of pandemonium. With 24 patients under care-11 in the core trauma ICU and 13 in the nearby semi-ICU-the rapid spread of flames and fumes overwhelmed initial responses. Dedicated staff, including nurses and ward attendants, sprang into action, maneuvering beds and trolleys to ferry the sedated victims to safer zones, but the toxic haze proved fatal for six who succumbed despite frantic resuscitation attempts. Among the departed were two women and four men, their fates sealed by acute respiratory distress from smoke inhalation and secondary burns.

Blaze Origin and Chaotic Evacuation: Short Circuit Sparks Nightmare

Trauma Centre head Dr. Anurag Dhakad detailed how the sms hospital fire jaipur episode ignited from a probable wiring fault, igniting electrical panels and billowing acrid vapors that saturated the enclosed space in mere moments. "Our team acted on instinct, prioritizing the immobile patients who couldn't self-evacuate," Dhakad recounted, praising the valor of on-duty personnel who shielded colleagues while hauling equipment-laden trolleys through choking corridors. Fire tenders arrived promptly, dousing the core blaze within 45 minutes, but the delay in smoke clearance allowed irreversible harm to the vulnerable cohort.

The ward's design-tight quarters optimized for monitoring-exacerbated the crisis, as vents funneled toxins toward oxygen-dependent setups. All 24 souls were ultimately extracted to auxiliary units, yet five linger in critical care, battling lung damage and thermal injuries. This incident echoes a grim pattern of hospital fire india tragedies, from Delhi's AIIMS inferno to Mumbai's similar ICU scares, spotlighting systemic gaps in fire-retardant infrastructure and routine audits.

• Origin: Suspected short circuit in electrical panel.
• Patients Affected: 24 total; 11 in main ICU, 13 semi-ICU.
• Evacuation: Staff used trolleys; all rescued but 8 fatalities.
• Fatalities: 6 from smoke; 2 from burns/complications.
• Response Time: Flames contained in 45 minutes.

Eyewitnesses, including family members huddled outside, described heart-wrenching pleas amid the haze, underscoring the human cost of overlooked maintenance in public health facilities.

Government Response: CM Sharma's Probe and PM Modi's Condolences

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, arriving at dawn on October 6, consoled grieving kin and instructed the formation of a high-powered six-member inquiry, tasked with dissecting the short circuit's roots and scrutinizing electrical upkeep protocols. "No stone unturned; accountability is paramount," Sharma affirmed, pledging enhanced fire safety across Rajasthan's 200+ government hospitals, including mandatory drills and sprinkler retrofits. The panel, comprising fire experts, electrical engineers, and medical administrators, is slated to submit findings within 30 days, potentially leading to stringent norms for aging infrastructure like SMS, a 1930s-era behemoth serving millions annually.

From the national helm, PM Modi's X message resonated widely: "Deeply pained by the Jaipur hospital fire tragedy. Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families; prayers for the injured's speedy healing." The outpouring, echoed by Governor Kalraj Mishra, galvanized relief: Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia per deceased family, plus medical coverage for survivors, announced by the state disaster cell. This swift empathy contrasts with past delays in similar crises, signaling a proactive pivot in crisis governance.

Family Anguish: No Extinguishers, Helpless Amid Smoke

Relatives of the departed voiced raw fury over the ward's woeful preparedness, with one son lamenting his mother's demise: "Smoke poured in like a monster, but zero tools to fight back-no extinguishers, no water lines, not even spare oxygen masks." His account paints a ward devoid of basics, where flickering lights presaged the doom, yet alarms lagged. Another kin, clutching a faded photo, decried the "criminal neglect," demanding not just compensation but systemic overhaul to spare future families such torment.

These testimonies fuel calls for accountability, with activists petitioning the Rajasthan High Court for a broader audit of ICU fire safety india standards. The grief, raw and unfiltered, transcends personal loss, igniting debates on equitable healthcare where the underprivileged bear the brunt of institutional frailties.

• No Fire Gear: Extinguishers absent in ICU.
• Oxygen Shortage: Masks depleted during chaos.
• Family Plea: Immediate safety audits statewide.
• Compensation: Rs 10 lakh per family announced.
• Legal Push: HC petition for ICU reforms.

Their voices, amplified by media, pressure authorities to convert sorrow into safeguards.

Forensic Probe: Short Circuit Suspect, Post-Mortems Pending

Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph outlined the investigative roadmap: Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams are dissecting wiring relics and CCTV footage to confirm the short circuit narrative, with preliminary nods to overloaded circuits in the aging setup. "Bodies are in the mortuary; post-mortems await kin consents, revealing smoke toxin's toll," Joseph noted, vowing zero tolerance for negligence. The inquiry extends to vendor contracts for electricals, probing if subpar installations fueled the fault.

This jaipur icu fire probe aligns with national directives post-2023's Safdarjung Hospital blaze, where similar lapses prompted NDMA guidelines. Experts anticipate revelations on non-compliant generators and unserviced panels, catalyzing upgrades in Rajasthan's overburdened network.

Recurring Horror: Lessons from India's Hospital Fire Saga

SMS's tragedy slots into a macabre timeline: 2024's Mumbai ICU inferno killed seven, while Delhi's 2023 NICU fire claimed six neonates. Common threads-faulty wiring, absent sprinklers-expose a chasm between policy and practice, despite NDMA's 2016 mandates for zoned evacuation and halon suppressants. Rajasthan, with 40% rural reliance on public wards, faces amplified risks from monsoon surges taxing grids.

Advocates urge AI-driven monitors and modular ICUs, but funding shortfalls-Rs 500 crore gap in 2025 health budget-hinder. Sharma's panel could pioneer, mandating bi-annual audits and VR drills, transforming grief into guardianship.

Path Forward: Enhancing Safety in Rajasthan's Healthcare Hubs

As five fighters cling to life in SMS's overflow bays, the state mobilizes: temporary oxygen tents installed, grief counselors deployed. Broader reforms loom-Rs 50 crore infusion for fire-proofing 50 major facilities, per preliminary estimates. Families, channeling anguish into activism, form a support collective, vowing vigilance.

October 6's dawn brings resolve amid ruins: SMS, resilient phoenix, will rise safer, honoring the eight whose silence screams for change. In India's healing heart, this fire forges a fiercer commitment to lives entrusted.