Jaipur Hospital Fire: Families Accuse Staff of Fleeing Scene, Alleging Gross Negligence After Eight Deaths

Jaipur, October 6, 2025: A devastating fire late Sunday night at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital has left the city in shock. The blaze broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the trauma centre, claiming the lives of eight patients, while three others remain in critical condition. What has made the tragedy even more distressing are the allegations from grieving families, who claim that hospital staff abandoned their duties and fled instead of helping patients trapped inside.

Families Allege Staff Negligence

Several relatives of the victims have come forward with disturbing accounts of what happened inside the ICU that night. Om Prakash, a relative of one of the deceased patients, told ANI that smoke began spreading around 11:20 p.m., prompting him to alert the on-duty doctors and compounders.

“We immediately warned them that the smoke could harm patients,” Om Prakash said. “But by the time the smoke thickened, all the doctors and staff had already run away. Only four to five patients could be rescued. My cousin, who was recovering and set to be discharged in two days, died helplessly.”

#WATCH | SMS Hospital fire, Jaipur | "... It was my aunt's son. He was 25 years old and named Pintu... When smoke came out at 11.20 pm, we had informed the doctors that the patients might have problems. Then gradually the smoke increased. As the smoke increased, the doctors and… pic.twitter.com/sR3OuQ79Ku

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025

Another family member, Jogendra Singh, shared a similar account. His mother was admitted to the ICU at the time of the incident.

“When sparks first appeared, I repeatedly alerted the doctors — at least four or five times — but they brushed it off as nothing serious,” he said. “Then suddenly, thick smoke filled the entire ward. The staff panicked and ran outside. No one stayed back to help my mother.”

#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

“There Were No Fire Safety Measures Inside the ICU”

One of the most alarming claims made by the families is the complete lack of fire-fighting equipment inside the ICU. A relative who lost his mother said,

“There were no fire extinguishers, no water supply — nothing to put out the flames. The ICU burned while we watched helplessly. Had there been even basic safety tools, so many lives could have been saved.”

The families believe that the absence of essential safety infrastructure and the staff’s delayed response intensified the disaster, leading to multiple fatalities.

Hospital Authorities Respond

In response to the allegations, Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the in-charge of the Trauma Centre, acknowledged that the fire spread rapidly due to toxic gases released during the short circuit.

“There are two ICUs in the trauma block — one Trauma ICU and one Semi-ICU — with a total of 24 patients admitted. The fire started in the Trauma ICU due to a short circuit and quickly spread. Our staff used trolleys to evacuate patients to other wards, but six critically ill patients could not be saved despite receiving CPR,” Dr. Dhakad explained.

He confirmed that an internal investigation has been initiated and emphasized that all remaining patients have been shifted to safer wards.

Government Orders High-Level Inquiry

Following the tragedy, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and met with the victims’ families. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and assured that those responsible for negligence would be held accountable. The state government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident to determine whether proper safety protocols were in place and followed.

What We Know So Far

• Incident: Fire in Trauma ICU of SMS Hospital, Jaipur

• Casualties: 8 patients dead, 3 critically injured

• Probable Cause: Electrical short circuit

• Time of Incident: Around 11:20 p.m., Sunday night

• Key Allegation: Hospital staff fled instead of rescuing patients

• Official Action: High-level government investigation ordered

A Tragic Reminder

The Jaipur hospital fire highlights a growing concern about fire safety standards in Indian healthcare facilities. This is not the first time such a tragedy has struck — and experts say it underscores the urgent need for hospitals to conduct regular fire safety audits, ensure functioning extinguishers, and train staff for emergency response.

For now, grieving families are demanding justice and accountability, hoping that their loss sparks meaningful change in hospital safety norms across the state.