Jaipur Hospital Fire: Six Critical Patients Die During ICU Evacuation - Officials Claim Deaths Not Directly Caused by Flames

The fire incident occurred in the ICU of the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur.

According to SMS Hospital Superintendent Sushil Bhati, the six individuals who passed away during Sunday's hospital fire had severe life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care treatment. These patients—two women and four men—died because their critical neurological care was interrupted when they had to be evacuated due to the fire.

"These individuals did not perish because of the fire itself. They died because they were critically ill patients who needed to be relocated from the ICU," Bhati explained to news agency ANI.

He emphasized repeatedly, "No one died from the fire directly. There was a fire in the ICU that produced significant smoke, which necessitated moving the patients. No one sustained fire-related injuries."

When questioned again about whether the six deceased patients lost their lives in the actual fire, Bhati clarified, "No, they did not die because of the fire. They were critically ill patients. Such vulnerable patients were transferred to another ICU due to the fire and smoke."

Bhati assured that ICU patients who survived the relocation continue receiving necessary treatment in a ward equipped with oxygen cylinders and ventilators.

The massive blaze at the government hospital late Sunday was reportedly caused by a suspected electrical short circuit.

Dr. Anurag Dhakad, the trauma in-charge, reported that 11 patients were being treated in the neurological ICU when the incident occurred.

The fire spread rapidly throughout the ICU and building, creating panic among patients and families, some of whom later alleged negligence by hospital personnel.

Family members claimed staff had been alerted about smoke but dismissed it as 'normal.' They also reported that fire alarms weren't activated, fire extinguishers were non-functional, and some hospital staff prioritized their own safety during the emergency.

However, certain staff members maintained they did everything possible to save patients. One ward attendant stated, "We were inside the operating theatre and immediately rushed to rescue people. We managed to save three to four individuals, but as the flames intensified, we could no longer enter the building."

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the facility to assess the situation and established an investigative committee led by Medical Department Commissioner Iqbal Khan to examine the fire incident.