6 killed as fire ravages ICU of Jaipur's hospital

Anguished relatives held a brief protest and alleged that authorities were negligent, ignoring warnings and fleeing instead of rescuing the ailing and sick

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A massive fire blazed through the neuro ICU of Jaipur's state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in the dead of the night, killing six patients on critical care support, officials said Monday.

Eleven patients were being treated in the ICU at the time. The fire, which erupted in the storage area around midnight, is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. The flames spread fast and rescuers could pull out only five patients.

According to a hospital official, six people, two women and four men, died, and five are undergoing treatment. Fourteen other patients were admitted to a different ICU. They all were rescued in time.

The government announced ₹10 lakh in compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased.

It also removed SMS hospital superintendent Dr Sushil Bhati and Trauma Centre incharge Dr Anurag Dhakad from their posts. The two were replaced by Dr Mrinal Joshi and Dr BL Yadav.