6 Patients Die in Jaipur Hospital Fire; Short Circuit Suspected

Jaipur, Rajasthan — A devastating fire broke out late Sunday night at the government-run Swai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital’s trauma centre, claiming the lives of eight critically ill patients.

The blaze, suspected to have originated from a short circuit in the storage area, rapidly engulfed the Neuro ICU, where 11 patients were undergoing treatment.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick smoke filled the ward, triggering panic among patients and their families. Hospital staff and caregivers rushed to evacuate patients, some carrying them out along with their beds. Despite their efforts, six patients succumbed to the fire.

Firefighters arrived nearly two hours after the incident began and managed to contain the blaze. Several ICU devices, blood sample tubes, and medical records were destroyed.

Reports suggest some hospital employees fled during the emergency, and families expressed frustration over the lack of timely updates on patient conditions.

Senior officials, including Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Ministers Jogaram Patel and Jawahar Singh Bedham, visited the site to assess the damage and offer condolences.

An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause and assess lapses in emergency response protocols.