6 killed as fire ravages ICU of Jaipur hospital

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.

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.

A hospital official said six persons, two women and four men, died and five were undergoing treatment. Fourteen others were admitted to a different ICU. They all were rescued on time.  The government announced Rs 10-lakh compensation for the next of the kin of the deceased.

It also removed SMS hospital superintendent Dr Sushil Bhati and trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad from their posts.

The tender of the fire safety agency was cancelled and legal proceedings were underway against the company, an official said.

Expressing grief, PM Narendra Modi said in an X post, “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.

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