A devastating fire late Sunday night at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital — Rajasthan’s largest government medical facility — claimed six lives and left five others injured, after flames and thick smoke engulfed the Trauma ICU on the hospital’s second floor. Officials suspect a short circuit as the cause, though a detailed forensic investigation is underway.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with grieving families accusing hospital authorities of gross negligence and poor fire preparedness. Many have questioned how such a tragedy could occur in one of the state’s most advanced hospitals.
According to officials, the fire started around 11:15 p.m. in the Trauma ICU, where 11 patients were admitted at the time. Nearby, 13 others were being treated in the semi-ICU. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the entire ward, trapping patients — most of whom were unconscious or immobile — as staff scrambled to respond. 
Preliminary findings suggest the fire began near a set of medical machines, possibly from an electrical short circuit. However, Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said the final cause will only be confirmed after a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). “It appears like a short circuit at first, but we will confirm only after the FSL findings,” he told the media.
Doctors and nurses described a scene of chaos as alarms rang and smoke rapidly filled the ICU. “The fire spread quickly, releasing toxic gases. Most of the patients were unconscious. We immediately began rescue operations,” said Dr. Anurag Dhakad, in-charge of the Trauma Centre.
He added, “Our nursing officers and ward boys rushed in with trolleys to move the patients. We managed to evacuate all 24 from the ICU, but six of them were too critical. We tried everything, including CPR, but they could not be revived.”
