A six-member high-level committee has been constituted for the probe into the SMS hospital devastating fire incident. Under the chairmanship of the Commissioner of Medical Education.
Rajasthan Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma, assured the people injured in the fire at SMS hospital, Jaipur, of proper treatment and care. Sharing an X post after he visited the SMS hospital. He said that the situation is being continuously monitored.
CM Sharma said the state government stands with the affected families to provide every possible relief. A massive fire broke out at the Intensive Care Unit of the Trauma Centre in Sawai Man Singh Hospital has claiming six lives.
Trauma Centre In-charge, Dr Anurag Dhakad, said the fire was caused by a short circuit and spread rapidly. Twenty-four patients have been shifted immediately on trolleys to other wards.
Officials suspect a short circuit caused the terrible tragedy in the ICU ward’s storeroom, where papers, medical equipment, and blood sample tubes were kept. The fire quickly engulfed the entire ward, and smoke spread, causing panic. Besides the eight patients who died in the incident, three are in critical condition.
According to hospital administration, the fire was caused by a short circuit. At the time of the incident, a total of 18 patients were admitted in the ICU and semi-ICU, of which 11 were in the same ward where the fire broke out.
Fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene, but the fire and toxic smoke hampered rescue operations. Many patients were rescued by breaking windows and doors with the help of family members and hospital staff. Patients were immediately placed on beds on the street and given oxygen and first aid.
After the fire broke out, there was chaos in the hospital. The staff struggled to evacuate critical patients admitted to the ICU. It took one to one and a half hours to control the fire. All patients, along with their beds, were shifted to the street outside.
Dr Anurag Dhakad, nodal officer for the Trauma Center, stated that there were 11 patients in the ICU. Some of them were immediately evacuated. The adjacent ICU had 13 patients. Six patients were trapped inside as the fire spread.
Serious questions have been raised about the hospital’s security arrangements following the incident. People say the fire alarm system did not function properly in the initial minutes after the fire broke out, and there was a delay in shutting off the oxygen line. The staff lacked adequate fire safety equipment, which further accelerated the fire’s spread.
Families of the deceased are angry and have staged a sit-in protest outside the SMS Trauma Center. The families protesting on the main road have accused the administration of negligence.On receiving information about the incident, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma arrived at the hospital late at night and took stock of the situation. He directed immediate provision of all resources for the treatment of the injured.
The Chief Minister stated, “This is a very sad and worrying incident. Strict action will be taken against the culprits.” He has sought a detailed report from Medical Education Secretary Ambrish Kumar, Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph, Jaipur Collector Jitendra Soni, and SMS Medical College Principal Dr. Deepak Maheshwari.