NEW DELHI: Relatives of patients at the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital Trauma Centre in Jaipur expressed outrage over what they described as negligence during a fire in the Trauma ICU late Sunday night, which claimed the lives of six patients.
They recounted harrowing experiences as smoke engulfed the ward, highlighting 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, told news agency ANI.
Also read - Rajasthan: 6 dead, 5 critical after fire breaks out at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital trauma ICU; what triggered the blaze?
Narendra Singh, another relative, said, "There was a fire in the ICU, and I didn't even know. I had come downstairs to have dinner at the time. There wasn't even any equipment to douse the fire—no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there."
Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old maternal aunt's son was admitted, recounted: "Smoke started spreading around 11:20 PM, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt's son lost his life due to the incident. He was about to recover and was scheduled to be discharged in two-three days."
Jogendra Singh, another relative, said, "My mother was admitted to the ICU. When the spark occurred, I alerted the doctors four to five times that it was coming from there, but they dismissed it as normal. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all the staff ran out, leaving no one to help or save my mother. I was outside when I asked the police, and they said everyone had been evacuated. However, my mother and brother were still trapped inside the hospital. Somehow, I managed to rescue my brother, but he is now in critical condition."
Ranjit Singh Rathore, whose brother was admitted, added, "I had just arrived this evening. I rushed to the hospital, but initially, they wouldn't let me inside. After some time, I managed to enter. When I went in, I found my brother dead."
The fire, triggered by a short circuit, started in the Trauma ICU on the second floor of the trauma centre building. At the time, 11 patients were admitted to the Trauma ICU and 13 to the adjacent semi-ICU. The blaze spread rapidly, releasing toxic gases. Most of the patients in the Trauma ICU were comatose, heightening the urgency of the situation.
Dr Anurag Dhakad, Trauma Centre In-charge, said the trauma centre team, along with nursing officers and ward boys, evacuated all 24 patients on trolleys to safer areas within the hospital. Despite efforts to revive the six critically ill patients with CPR, they could not be saved. Five others remain in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited SMS Hospital following the fire outbreak to review the situation.
They recounted harrowing experiences as smoke engulfed the ward, highlighting 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, told news agency ANI.
Also read - Rajasthan: 6 dead, 5 critical after fire breaks out at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital trauma ICU; what triggered the blaze?
Narendra Singh, another relative, said, "There was a fire in the ICU, and I didn't even know. I had come downstairs to have dinner at the time. There wasn't even any equipment to douse the fire—no facilities were available. My mother was admitted there."
Om Prakash, whose 25-year-old maternal aunt's son was admitted, recounted: "Smoke started spreading around 11:20 PM, and I warned the doctors that it could cause discomfort to patients. By the time the smoke intensified, the doctors and compounders had already fled. Only 4 to 5 patients were evacuated. Tragically, my maternal aunt's son lost his life due to the incident. He was about to recover and was scheduled to be discharged in two-three days."
Jogendra Singh, another relative, said, "My mother was admitted to the ICU. When the spark occurred, I alerted the doctors four to five times that it was coming from there, but they dismissed it as normal. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the area, and all the staff ran out, leaving no one to help or save my mother. I was outside when I asked the police, and they said everyone had been evacuated. However, my mother and brother were still trapped inside the hospital. Somehow, I managed to rescue my brother, but he is now in critical condition."
Ranjit Singh Rathore, whose brother was admitted, added, "I had just arrived this evening. I rushed to the hospital, but initially, they wouldn't let me inside. After some time, I managed to enter. When I went in, I found my brother dead."
The fire, triggered by a short circuit, started in the Trauma ICU on the second floor of the trauma centre building. At the time, 11 patients were admitted to the Trauma ICU and 13 to the adjacent semi-ICU. The blaze spread rapidly, releasing toxic gases. Most of the patients in the Trauma ICU were comatose, heightening the urgency of the situation.
Dr Anurag Dhakad, Trauma Centre In-charge, said the trauma centre team, along with nursing officers and ward boys, evacuated all 24 patients on trolleys to safer areas within the hospital. Despite efforts to revive the six critically ill patients with CPR, they could not be saved. Five others remain in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited SMS Hospital following the fire outbreak to review the situation.
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