Key Highlights:
- Six critically ill patients died in the SMS Hospital fire at Jaipur’s trauma ICU on Sunday night
- The blaze was caused by a suspected short circuit in the storage area of the Neuro ICU
- Families allege hospital staff ignored warnings and fled during the emergency, abandoning patients
A devastating SMS Hospital fire at Jaipur‘s premier government medical facility has exposed critical gaps in emergency preparedness and fire safety protocols, claiming the lives of six patients and leaving five others fighting for survival. The tragedy unfolded at the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital when flames engulfed the trauma center’s intensive care unit during the late hours of October 5, 2025. The SMS Hospital fire incident has triggered widespread outrage among families who accuse medical staff of negligence, while raising serious questions about hospital safety standards across India’s healthcare infrastructure.
The blaze originated around 11:20 PM in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, where 11 critically ill patients were receiving treatment for various neurological conditions. Initial investigations point to a suspected short circuit as the primary cause, with the flames quickly spreading toxic smoke throughout the ward before emergency responders could contain the situation. The SMS Hospital fire has become a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that persist in India’s healthcare system, particularly in government-run facilities that serve millions of patients annually.
Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Chaos and Alleged Negligence
The harrowing testimonies from families present during the incident paint a picture of systemic failures and potential negligence during the critical moments when the blaze erupted. Narendra Singh, whose mother perished in the tragedy, told news agencies that he was having dinner downstairs when the flames broke out and discovered the tragic reality only after it was too late to save her. His account highlights the apparent lack of immediate communication systems to alert relatives about emergency situations in the hospital’s trauma center.
Multiple family members have come forward with similar allegations about the SMS Hospital fire incident, claiming they warned hospital staff about signs of electrical problems but were dismissed. Om Prakash, whose cousin was among the victims, stated that he alerted doctors about smoke around 11:20 PM but was told the situation was normal. These accounts suggest a pattern of dismissive responses from medical personnel that may have contributed to the severity of the SMS Hospital fire tragedy.
The most damning allegations center on claims that hospital staff abandoned patients during the emergency. Joginder Singh, another grieving family member affected by the tragedy, told reporters that when smoke increased, hospital staff fled the scene, leaving families to attempt their own rescue operations. These testimonies raise serious questions about emergency protocols and staff training at one of Rajasthan’s most important medical institutions following the SMS Hospital fire incident.
Puran Singh’s account reveals the panic that ensued when toxic gases began spreading throughout the ICU. According to his testimony, some families managed to rescue their own patients during the emergency, but others were left behind as staff members shut gates and evacuated the area. The SMS Hospital fire incident has thus become emblematic of broader concerns about emergency preparedness in Indian healthcare facilities.
Hospital Infrastructure and Emergency Response Challenges
The technical aspects of the blaze reveal significant infrastructure vulnerabilities that contributed to the tragic outcome. According to trauma center in-charge Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the flames erupted in a storage area containing medical equipment, documents, and blood sample tubes, creating a perfect storm for rapid flame spread and toxic gas generation. The confined space and combustible materials accelerated the emergency beyond what standard fire suppression equipment could handle effectively.
Fire department officials reported that dense smoke had completely engulfed the ward by the time emergency crews arrived, forcing them to break windows from the opposite side of the building to access patients. This operational challenge consumed precious time during the golden hour when patient survival chances were highest. The emergency response took approximately two hours to fully contain, during which most of the ICU equipment was destroyed and toxic gases continued to threaten patient safety.
The hospital’s safety infrastructure came under intense scrutiny following the SMS Hospital fire incident. Family members alleged that no functional fire extinguishers were available in the immediate vicinity of the blaze, contradicting basic safety requirements for medical facilities. This alleged absence of basic suppression equipment represents a critical failure in safety preparedness that may have contributed to the casualty count in the SMS Hospital fire.
Emergency evacuation procedures also appear to have been inadequate for the scale of the crisis. Hospital staff and patient attendants were forced to manually transport patients on beds and trolleys to safer locations outside the building during the emergency. The lack of structured evacuation protocols specifically designed for ICU patients with life-support requirements highlights the need for specialized emergency planning in critical care facilities across India.
Government Response and Accountability Measures
The Rajasthan state government has responded to the tragedy with immediate administrative action and promises of thorough investigation. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital shortly after the incident and announced the formation of a six-member investigative committee to examine the causes and recommend preventive measures. The committee, chaired by Medical Department Commissioner Iqbal Khan, includes technical experts from multiple departments and will specifically focus on safety protocols and emergency response capabilities following the SMS Hospital fire.
जयपुर के सवाई मानसिंह अस्पताल के ट्रॉमा सेंटर में आग लगने की घटना अत्यंत दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।
— Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) October 6, 2025
अस्पताल पहुंचकर चिकित्सकों एवं अधिकारियों से जानकारी ली और त्वरित राहत कार्य सुनिश्चित करने के निर्देश दिए। मरीजों की सुरक्षा, इलाज और प्रभावित लोगों की देखभाल के लिए हर संभव कदम उठाए जा…
The investigative panel’s mandate extends beyond determining the immediate cause to examining broader systemic issues in hospital safety compliance. Committee members include specialists from the Public Works Department’s electrical division, hospital administration experts, and safety officials who will assess whether the facility met current standards before the incident occurred. This comprehensive approach suggests recognition that the tragedy reflects broader infrastructure and management challenges rather than an isolated technical failure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have both expressed condolences and called for enhanced hospital safety measures following the incident. The high-level attention indicates federal government concern about recurring hospital incidents across India and potential policy interventions to strengthen safety regulations after events like the SMS Hospital fire.
The incident has also prompted opposition political leaders to demand judicial inquiries rather than administrative investigations. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited the site and called for independent judicial oversight of the probe, arguing that administrative committees may lack the authority to ensure accountability. This political dimension reflects broader public skepticism about internal hospital investigations and demands for transparent, independent oversight of healthcare safety standards following incidents like the SMS Hospital fire.
National Context and Healthcare Safety Statistics
The tragedy occurs against a backdrop of recurring hospital incidents across India, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in healthcare infrastructure safety. Recent data indicates a disturbing trend of hospital blazes, with ICUs being the most frequently affected areas due to high electrical load and oxygen-rich environments, making incidents like the SMS Hospital fire increasingly common. Research published in medical journals shows that ICUs account for approximately 59% of all hospital incidents, making this tragedy part of a recognizable pattern rather than an isolated event.
India’s healthcare facilities have experienced several major incidents in recent years, including the Jhansi Medical College NICU blaze in November 2024 that killed 10 newborns and a Delhi children’s hospital incident in May 2024 that claimed seven lives, events that share similarities with the SMS Hospital fire. These incidents collectively demonstrate that the tragedy represents part of a broader crisis in healthcare facility safety standards across the country.
SMS Hospital, where the recent incident occurred, serves as Rajasthan’s largest government medical facility with 6,251 beds across 43 wards and multiple specialized ICUs. The hospital’s massive scale and patient volume of thousands daily makes it a critical healthcare infrastructure asset, but also amplifies the potential impact of safety failures. At the time of the emergency, there were 210 patients in the facility, with 40 patients in each of the four ICUs.
Safety compliance in Indian hospitals has been inconsistent despite regulatory requirements, a factor that may have contributed to incidents like this tragedy. The Rajasthan government recently relaxed NOC requirements for smaller hospitals, requiring annual certifications only for facilities above certain size thresholds. However, major hospitals like SMS remain subject to annual safety certification requirements due to their size and complexity.
Closing Assessment
The SMS Hospital fire tragedy represents more than an isolated incident of infrastructure failure; it embodies the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare safety reforms across India’s medical system. The loss of six lives in what should have been a sanctuary of healing demands both immediate accountability and long-term systemic changes to prevent future tragedies. As families continue their protests outside the hospital demanding justice for the victims, the incident serves as a stark reminder that patient safety extends beyond medical treatment to encompass the fundamental infrastructure that supports healthcare delivery.
The testimonies of family members who watched their loved ones perish while alleging staff negligence cannot be dismissed as mere grief-driven accusations. Their accounts, if validated through thorough investigation, reveal critical gaps in emergency preparedness, staff training, and institutional accountability that threaten patient safety across India’s healthcare system. The SMS Hospital fire investigation must therefore serve as a catalyst for broader reforms rather than simply addressing an isolated incident at a single facility.
