Relatives of the victims of the fire at the ICU of the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital staged a protest on Monday, alleging gross negligence by hospital staff and the State government. Six patients lost their lives in the tragic blaze that broke out in the Trauma ICU late Sunday night.

Angry family members and local residents gathered outside the hospital, raising slogans against the hospital administration and the BJP government in Rajasthan. Protesters alleged that the staff failed to act on warnings about an electrical short circuit that reportedly triggered the fire.

Families recount panic and chaos inside ICU

“The hospital staff was informed about the short circuit, but they did not listen to us. People have lost their loved ones due to negligence. If they had acted in time, lives could have been saved,” one protester told ANI.

Several relatives recounted harrowing experiences as thick smoke filled the ICU, forcing panicked patients and attendants to flee. Puran Singh, a relative of a patient, said, “When there was a spark, a cylinder was kept beside it. The smoke spread across the ICU, and everyone ran in panic. Some rescued their family members, but mine was left inside. As gas spread further, the gates were shut.”

Another relative, Narendra Singh, said there was no equipment available to douse the flames. “There wasn’t even a fire extinguisher nearby. I had gone downstairs for dinner and came back to find out there was a fire. My mother was inside,” he said.

State government forms six-member probe panel

While the cause of the fire is prima facie attributed to a short circuit, the Rajasthan government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A six-member committee has been formed to investigate the fire and assess safety lapses.

The panel will be headed by Iqbal Khan, Commissioner of the Medical Department, and include:

  • Mukesh Kumar Meena, Additional Director, Hospital Administration, RajMES
  • Chandan Singh Meena, Chief Engineer, RajMES
  • Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer (Electrical), PWD
  • R K Jain, Additional Principal, SMS Medical College
  • Chief Fire Officer, Jaipur Municipal Corporation

The committee has been directed to submit its preliminary findings within a few days, focusing on fire safety compliance, response time, and accountability.

The incident has once again raised serious concerns about fire preparedness and safety standards in Rajasthan’s government hospitals.