At least nine people were killed in a devastating fire at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital’s ICU in Jaipur on Sunday evening.  In the aftermath, grieving relatives and witnesses accused hospital staff and authorities of gross negligence, claiming there was no proper safety equipment in place to contain the blaze.

One relative, Puran Singh, recounted that a spark ignited near a medical oxygen cylinder, causing smoke to quickly spread through the ICU and prompting patients and staff to flee. Some attempted to rescue their own patients, but Singh alleged his family member was abandoned.  Another attendant, Narendra Singh, claimed there were no firefighting facilities available, and he only learned of the fire after going downstairs for dinner.

Outside the hospital, the victims’ kin staged protests, demanding accountability from hospital management and alleging that staff ignored repeated warnings about a short circuit before the fire broke out.

The Rajasthan government, pointing to a likely short circuit as the preliminary cause, has formed a six-member inquiry committee. Led by the Commissioner of the Medical Department, Iqbal Khan, the panel includes engineering and hospital administration officials.