At least six patients have died and several others are in critical condition after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the main government-run hospital in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur, officials said on Monday, October 6, 2025.
The blaze began late Sunday night in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, one of Rajasthan’s largest public hospitals. Authorities believe the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, which quickly spread to an adjacent ward, filling the area with thick smoke and toxic fumes.
“Five patients remain in critical condition while 13 others were safely evacuated,” said hospital official Dr. Anurag Dhakad, who added that the fire “released toxic gases that made rescue efforts extremely difficult.”
Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing the situation under control. Patients from nearby wards were moved to safety as emergency crews worked through dense smoke.
The SMS Hospital is a major referral facility that serves patients from across Rajasthan state. Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said a forensic team had been dispatched to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The Rajasthan state government has formed a special committee to investigate the tragedy. The probe will assess:
The hospital’s response and evacuation measures,
The adequacy of firefighting systems, and
Preventive safety measures in place to avoid future incidents.
Officials say the findings will guide urgent reforms in hospital safety protocols.
This latest incident adds to a worrying pattern of hospital fires across India, often blamed on poor electrical wiring, outdated infrastructure, and weak enforcement of safety standards.
Just last November, ten newborn babies died in a neonatal intensive care unit fire in Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, six infants perished in a fire at a baby care hospital in New Delhi in May 2024.
Safety advocates have long urged authorities to upgrade fire equipment and enforce stricter inspections in medical facilities—especially those treating vulnerable patients in ICUs and maternity wards.
Local leaders and health officials have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for accountability. Residents gathered outside the hospital demanding swift justice and improved safety measures.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to identify the victims and offer support to affected families.
