Fire at Jaipur's State-Run Hospital Kills Six ICU Patients
A fire at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur killed at least six critical patients in the Neuro ICU. Officials suspect a short circuit in a storage area caused the blaze. Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings and fled when the fire broke out. The incident caused chaos as thick smoke engulfed the building, destroying medical equipment. The state government has formed a high-level committee to investigate the tragedy.
Unpacked:
Failures included a non-functioning fire alarm, delayed shutdown of the oxygen line, and inadequate fire safety equipment, which allowed the fire and toxic smoke to spread rapidly and hampered evacuation and rescue efforts.
Families accused hospital staff of ignoring early warnings and fleeing during the fire. Public protests have erupted, with demonstrators blaming both hospital administration and the state government for negligence in fire safety and demanding accountability.
The state government formed a high-level committee to investigate the incident, review fire safety protocols, and assess the hospital’s emergency response. Police have also assembled a team of forensic and fire experts for a parallel investigation.
India has witnessed several hospital fires in recent years, often due to electrical faults and poor safety standards. The Jaipur tragedy highlights ongoing issues with fire preparedness and the urgent need to improve safety protocols in public hospitals nationwide.