Jaipur: Panic and chaos gripped Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital late Sunday night after a devastating fire broke out inside the trauma centre’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), killing at least six patients.

The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, spread rapidly before hospital staff could respond. 

Relatives of the victims allege that the hospital was woefully unprepared to handle the emergency. Many claim that fire extinguishers were either missing or non-functional, and that patients were left trapped as thick smoke filled the ICU ward.

“We kept shouting for help, but no one came. The doctors ran out when the smoke began to spread,” said Jogendra Singh, whose mother was among the deceased. “I managed to pull my brother out, but he is fighting for his life.”

Witnesses described scenes of utter confusion as families rushed in to save their loved ones. Some relatives broke open windows, while others used bedsheets to pull patients to safety.

“My cousin was about to be discharged in two days,” said Om Prakash, another bereaved relative. “When smoke started filling the room, I warned the staff, but they ignored it. By the time they reacted, it was too late.”

Hospital officials, however, have refuted allegations of negligence. Anurag Dhakad, in charge of the trauma centre, said the staff tried their best to control the blaze.

“The fire spread within minutes due to toxic fumes. We used extinguishers and called the fire brigade immediately. Unfortunately, eight patients succumbed to burns and suffocation,” Dhakad told reporters.

Preliminary reports suggest that 11 patients were admitted in the ICU at the time of the fire, which broke out around 11.20 pm.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital shortly after midnight and ordered a detailed inquiry.

Calling the incident “deeply saddening,” Sharma said, “Every possible measure is being taken to ensure relief for the affected families and to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.”

The victims’ bodies will be handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations, officials said. Outside the trauma centre, grief turned to anger as families demanded accountability.

“They said our patient was safe. But when we went inside, we found her lifeless,” said Ramakant, who lost his aunt, Sarvesh. “No one heard us cry for help.”

The charred ICU now stands as a grim reminder of the night that turned one of Rajasthan’s largest hospitals into a site of horror.