A fire broke out in Neurosurgery ICU-1 of the Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur — Rajasthan's largest government hospital — on the night of October 5–6, 2025, killing at least 8 patients who were critically ill and on ventilator support. Caused by an electrical short circuit, the blaze spread through paper files, ICU equipment, and blood-sample storage. CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site; the state constituted a six-member probe committee and subsequently issued mandatory fire safety guidelines for all government hospitals. The incident exposed chronic gaps in hospital fire-safety compliance — absence of automatic sprinkler systems, blocked emergency exits, and non-functional fire extinguishers.
Rajasthan SMS Hospital Jaipur ICU Fire (October 5–6, 2025): State Issues Fire Safety Guidelines
AQuick answer
A fire broke out in Neurosurgery ICU-1 of the Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur — Rajasthan's largest government hospital — on the night of October 5–6, 2025, killing at least 8 patients who were critically ill and on ventilator support. Caused by an electrical short circuit, the blaze spread through paper files, ICU equipment, and blood-sample storage. CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site; the state constituted a six-member probe committee and subsequently issued mandatory fire safety guidelines for all government hospitals. The incident exposed chronic gaps in hospital fire-safety compliance — absence of automatic sprinkler systems, blocked emergency exits, and non-functional fire extinguishers.
Key facts
- A fire in SMS Hospital Jaipur's Neurosurgery ICU-1 on October 5-6, 2025 killed at least 8 critically ill patients.
- The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit and spread through files, equipment and blood-sample storage.
- CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site and a six-member probe committee was constituted.
- Mandatory fire safety guidelines were subsequently issued for all government hospitals in Rajasthan.
- The incident exposed chronic gaps: no automatic sprinklers, blocked exits and non-functional extinguishers.
- SMS Hospital is Rajasthan's largest government hospital serving the entire state's population.
6-axis classification
CoverageRajasthanSubjectRajasthanExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourceIndia TV News / The Week / Medical Dialogues / IBTimes India
Appears in these topics
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionMedium
Following the SMS Hospital Jaipur ICU fire, how many members did the Rajasthan government appoint to the probe committee?
Explanation · Correct answer D
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site and the state constituted a six-member probe committee after the SMS Hospital fire. The government subsequently issued mandatory fire safety guidelines for all government hospitals.
Source: India TV News / The Week / Medical Dialogues / IBTimes India
Frequently asked questions
When did the SMS Hospital Jaipur ICU fire occur and how many patients died?
The fire broke out in the Neurosurgery ICU-1 of the Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur on the night of October 5–6, 2025. At least 8 critically ill patients who were on ventilator support died in the incident.
What caused the SMS Hospital Jaipur ICU fire?
The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. It spread rapidly through paper files, ICU equipment, and blood-sample storage units, making it difficult to control. The incident exposed chronic infrastructure gaps including the absence of automatic sprinklers, blocked emergency exits, and non-functional fire extinguishers.
What immediate actions did the Rajasthan government take after the SMS Hospital fire?
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma personally visited the site. The state constituted a six-member probe committee to investigate the cause and lapses. Mandatory fire safety guidelines were subsequently issued for all government hospitals in Rajasthan to prevent similar tragedies.
What fire safety deficiencies did the SMS Hospital ICU fire expose in government hospitals?
The fire exposed three critical deficiencies: the absence of automatic sprinkler systems in ICUs, blocked emergency evacuation exits, and non-functional or inadequate fire extinguishers. These are systemic issues found across many government hospitals in India and underscore the need for regular fire safety audits.
Why is SMS Hospital Jaipur significant for Rajasthan and what is its broader context?
SMS Hospital is Rajasthan's largest government hospital, serving the entire state's population including patients referred from remote districts. The fire highlighted the vulnerability of critically ill patients in ICUs and triggered a state-wide review of fire safety infrastructure in all government medical institutions. The incident also raised questions about hospital fire safety compliance under the National Building Code and fire NOC requirements.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback