Jaipur hospital fire: Most patients were comatose as flames engulfed ICU. What we know so far
Six patients— four men and two women—died; CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and reviewed the situation
Six patients— four men and two women—died; CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and reviewed the situation
Six patients— four men and two women—died; CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and reviewed the situation
Six patients— four men and two women—died; CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and reviewed the situation
In a shocking incident, six patients died in a fire at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur on Sunday night. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital and reviewed the situation.
The deceased included four men and two women. They were identified as Pintu (from Sikar), Dilip (from Andhi, Jaipur), Shrinath, Rukmini, Khurma (all from Bharatpur) and Bahadur (from Sanganer, Jaipur).
Anurag Dhakad, the trauma centre in-charge, said the fire, triggered by a short circuit, was rapidly spreading and releasing toxic gases.
"The fire seems to have broken out due to a short circuit. Our patients were already in a very critical condition. The maximum patients were in a coma. So their survival reflexes are also poor,” Dhakad said.
“Due to the electrical burn, toxic gases were released there, and we had to shift them along with their support system. Their condition became more serious. We tried to shift them to the ICUs on the lower floor, but we could not save them,” he added.
According to reports, various documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes, and other items stored in the area were gutted by the fire.
Along with the chief minister, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham also visited the hospital and met the victim’s families.
Kin alleges negligence
Meanwhile, relatives of the victims alleged negligence from the staff’s side and critical lapses in safety measures.
"When there was a spark, there was a cylinder beside it. The smoke spread throughout the ICU, causing everyone to flee in panic. Some managed to rescue their own patients, but mine was left alone in the room. As the gas spread further, they shut the gates,” Puran Singh, a relative of a patient, told ANI news agency.
Om Prakash, whose maternal aunt’s son lost his life in the incident, alleged that the doctors and attenders had fled the scene by the time the smoke intensified.