Eight Killed in Jaipur ICU Fire at SMS Hospital; Rajasthan Orders High-Level Probe

A devastating fire broke out late Sunday night in the Neuro ICU of the Trauma Centre at Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, killing eight patients and leaving several others in critical condition. The blaze started around 11:20 p.m. in the ICU storeroom, where paper, medical equipment, and blood sample tubes were stored; a short circuit is suspected as the cause. The fire quickly filled the ward with dense smoke, complicating rescue efforts and forcing firefighters to break window panes to spray water inside and evacuate patients onto the street. Family members accused hospital staff of ignoring early smoke warnings and cited inadequate fire safety measures, including a malfunctioning fire alarm and lack of firefighting equipment. The Rajasthan government has ordered a probe and formed a six-member committee to investigate the incident, with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma calling the tragedy and promising full support to affected families. The incident raised serious questions about hospital safety protocols and emergency response.