Patients Trapped as Smoke Fills Trauma ICU in Deadly Hospital Fire

On the night of October 7, 2025, a fire broke out in the Trauma ICU of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, India. The blaze, caused by a short circuit, quickly filled the ward with thick smoke, triggering panic and confusion among patients and their relatives.

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as the smoke spread, with hospital staff reportedly abandoning their posts and fleeing the area. Relatives were left to fend for themselves, desperately trying to rescue their loved ones trapped inside the burning ICU. One patient's relative, Puran Singh, recounted the initial moments: "When there was a spark, there was a cylinder beside it. The smoke spread throughout the ICU, causing everyone to flee in panic. Some managed to rescue their own patients, but mine was left alone in the room."

Tragically, the incident proved fatal for some patients. Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old nephew was admitted, shared the heartbreaking news: "Smoke started spreading around 11.20pm, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt's son lost his life due to the incident."

The chaos and lack of emergency response left many patients and their families in a state of despair. Jogendra Singh, whose mother was in the ICU, recounted his frantic efforts to save her: "When the spark occurred, I alerted the doctors four to five times that it was coming from there, but they dismissed it as normal. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all the staff ran out, leaving no one to help or save my mother."

As the situation unfolded, the Rajasthan chief minister, Bhajanlal Sharma, visited the hospital to assess the aftermath of the tragic incident.