Mon Oct 06 03:28:34 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Eight Dead in SMS Hospital Fire in Jaipur**
**Jaipur, India** – A devastating fire at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night claimed the lives of eight critically ill patients. The blaze erupted in the storage area of the trauma center’s Neuro ICU, where 11 patients were being treated. Authorities suspect a short circuit as the cause of the fire.
The incident triggered widespread panic as smoke quickly filled the building, causing chaos among patients, families, and hospital staff. Documents, medical equipment, and blood samples were destroyed in the fire.
Hospital staff and patient attendants worked to evacuate the patients, some even being moved outside on their beds. Firefighters arrived shortly after being alerted and managed to bring the fire under control in approximately two hours.
“We managed to save at least three to four patients,” said Vikas, a ward boy who participated in the rescue efforts. “However, as the flames intensified, we could no longer go into the building. We did our best to rescue as many as we could.”
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other government officials visited the hospital to assess the situation. However, the initial response was met with anger from some patient attendants, who alleged that staff fled the scene during the fire and failed to provide updates on their loved ones’ conditions.
“We noticed smoke and immediately informed the staff, but they did not pay any heed. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run,” one attendee claimed.
An investigation into the cause of the fire and the hospital’s response is underway.
First Piper 