Eight patients died after a fire erupted in the intensive care unit at Sawai Mansingh Hospital in Jaipur late on Sunday night. The blaze began around 11:20 p.m. in a storeroom containing paper, medical equipment, and blood sample tubes. Officials suspect a short circuit caused the fire that filled the neuro ICU ward with smoke. Firefighters removed window panes to spray water inside, and they needed more than an hour to control the flames.
Twenty-four patients occupied two adjacent ICU wards when the fire started. Family members claimed staff ignored early warnings about smoke that appeared 20 minutes before the fire intensified. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma arrived at the hospital at 2:30 a.m. to evaluate the response, and he canceled his Delhi meetings to remain in Jaipur. The state government formed a six-member investigation committee led by Medical Department Commissioner Iqbal Khan to examine the cause and emergency response procedures.
Twenty-four patients occupied two adjacent ICU wards when the fire started. Family members claimed staff ignored early warnings about smoke that appeared 20 minutes before the fire intensified. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma arrived at the hospital at 2:30 a.m. to evaluate the response, and he canceled his Delhi meetings to remain in Jaipur. The state government formed a six-member investigation committee led by Medical Department Commissioner Iqbal Khan to examine the cause and emergency response procedures.
