Jaipur Hospital Fire Claims 6 Lives at SMS Hospital: Investigation Committee Formed

Jaipur hospital fire: The state government has formed a high-level committee to probe the incident.

Jaipur:

Six critically ill patients lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out at the trauma center of Jaipur's state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late Sunday, according to official reports.

Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the trauma center's in-charge, explained that 11 patients were receiving treatment in the Neuro ICU when the fire erupted in the storage area, with a short circuit being the suspected cause.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media platform X, stating in Hindi, "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." While some reports suggested eight fatalities, both Dr. Dhakad and hospital superintendent Dr. Sushil Bhati confirmed six deaths occurred.

The Rajasthan government has established a high-level committee to investigate the incident thoroughly.

Officials identified the victims as Pintu from Sikar, Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, and Shrinath, Rukmini, and Khurma from Bharatpur.

"Six patients, including two women and four men, perished in the incident," Dhakad confirmed. "Fourteen additional patients who were in a separate ICU were successfully evacuated to safe locations," he added.

The fire created chaos throughout the building as thick smoke rapidly filled the premises, causing panic among patients and their families. Numerous documents, ICU equipment, and medical supplies were destroyed in the blaze.

Hospital staff and attendants worked diligently to evacuate patients, with some being wheeled out of the building on their beds. Fire services managed to bring the flames under control after approximately two hours.

Vikas, a ward boy present during the emergency, told PTI, "We were inside the operating theatre when we heard about the fire, so we immediately rushed to rescue the people inside the center. We managed to save at least three to four patients. However, as the flames intensified, we could no longer enter the building. We did our best to rescue as many as we could."

He further noted that while police arrived on the scene shortly after, the heavy smoke initially prevented them from entering the building.

When firefighters arrived, they found the entire ward engulfed in smoke and had to break a window to begin their firefighting efforts.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham visited the trauma center to assess the situation firsthand.

When Ministers Patel and Bedham initially arrived, some patients' relatives expressed their anger, claiming that hospital staff had ignored early warnings about the fire and fled the scene. They also complained about being unable to obtain information regarding their loved ones' conditions.

"We noticed smoke and immediately informed the staff, but they did not pay any heed. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run. Now, we cannot get any information about our patients. We want to know their condition, but no one is telling us," one attendant recounted.

Later, the Chief Minister spoke directly with doctors and patients.

Describing the incident as "extremely unfortunate," he assured that immediate relief measures were being implemented.

"I visited the hospital and received information from doctors and officials. We are ensuring the safety of patients, treatment, and care for the affected individuals. The situation is being continuously monitored," he stated on social media platform X.

In response to the tragedy, the state government announced the formation of an investigative committee. This committee will examine the fire's causes, evaluate the hospital's emergency preparedness and response, review safety measures, and recommend steps to prevent future incidents.

The committee will be led by Iqbal Khan, commissioner of the Medical Education Department, and is expected to provide a detailed report following site inspection and comprehensive review of the incident.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot described the incident as "heartbreaking" and urged the state government to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Opposition Leader Tikaram Jully claimed eight deaths had occurred and expressed his condolences.

AICC General Secretary and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot also visited the hospital and expressed his sorrow over the incident.

"This disaster has undoubtedly been caused due to negligence in one of the state's most renowned hospitals," he stated.

Pilot emphasized the need for accountability and called for immediate action to be taken.