At least six people died late Sunday night (5th October, 2025) after a massive fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Trauma centre at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, quickly spread through the ward, trapping several critically ill patients.
According to police officials, the incident occurred around 11:20 p.m. on October 5. Firefighters rushed to the scene but faced difficulties accessing the smoke-filled ICU, forcing them to break windowpanes to rescue patients. The fire was brought under control within two hours, but by then, six to eight patients had lost their lives, and several others sustained serious injuries.
Authorities confirmed that six people were killed, while at least five others remain in critical condition. Most victims were comatose or severely ill patients undergoing treatment in the ICU.
As the fire spread rapidly, medical staff and firefighters evacuated patients—many of whom were still in their hospital beds—to safety outside the building. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and panic as attendants and relatives rushed to locate their loved ones.
Families of the victims have accused hospital authorities of negligence. Several attendants claimed that they had alerted staff earlier about sparks and electrical faults in the ICU’s storage area. They also alleged that the fire alarm system failed to activate initially, and there was a delay in shutting down the oxygen supply, which worsened the blaze.
Some staff members reportedly fled the scene when the fire erupted. Protests broke out outside SMS Hospital early Monday morning, with patients’ relatives demanding accountability and improved safety measures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families. “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 Prime Minister’s Office posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the hospital soon after the incident and met with doctors, officials, and the families of patients. CM Sharma has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A six-member committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire, evaluate fire safety preparedness, and identify any lapses in the hospital’s response system.
The SMS Hospital is Rajasthan’s largest government-run medical institution, housing over 210 patients in multiple ICUs at the time of the incident. The tragedy has reignited concerns over fire safety standards in hospitals across India, many of which have witnessed similar incidents in recent years due to short circuits and inadequate emergency systems.
