At least eight patients died in a devastating fire that engulfed the trauma centre of the state run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur.
Dr Anurag Dhakad, the trauma centre in charge, said that eleven patients were being treated in the Neuro ICU when the fire broke out in the storage area. The fire has been suspected to be caused by a short circuit.
Taking to the social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”
A ward boy identified as Vikar told PTI that he along with others were inside the operating theater when they heard about the fire, they rushed inside the centre and managed to save at least three patients.
“We were inside the operating theatre when we heard about the fire. We rushed to rescue the people inside the centre and managed to save at least three to four patients. But as the flames intensified, it became impossible to enter the building again. We did our best to rescue as many as we could,” Vikas said to PTI.
Havoc in Building, ICU Equipments, Medical Supplies Destroyed
The blaze caused havoc in the building as thick smoke enveloped across the building rapidly, creating panic among patients and families. Several documents, ICU equipment, and medical supplies were also destroyed in the fire.
The thick smoke and blazing fire compelled the firefighter to break a window to start extinguishing the fire. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham also visited the trauma centre to take cognizance of the situation.
When Patel and Bedham initially arrived, kin of some patients expressed agony , alleging that the staff had ignored early warning and fled during the fire.
“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. Now, we cannot get any information about our patients. We want to know their condition, but no one is telling us,” one of the attendants said.
