Jaipur SMS Hospital Fire: Rs 1.5 Crore allocated for ICU Redevelopment

Rumela De Sarkar

Jaipur SMS Hospital Fire: Rs 1.5 Crore allocated for ICU Redevelopment

Written By : Rumela De Sarkar Published On 2025-11-12T09:45:35+05:30 | Updated On 12 Nov 2025 9:45 AM IST

24 ICU Beds Out of Service After SMS Hospital Fire; Rs 1.5 Crore Redevelopment Approved

Jaipur: Following the fire at SMS Medical College Hospital, Jaipur, in October, Rs 1.5 crore has been allocated for the redevelopment of the damaged ICU. The blaze destroyed ventilators, beds, monitoring systems, and extensive interior infrastructure, leaving 24 ICU beds non-operational.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that eight patients were killed and five remain critical after a massive fire broke out in the ICU of the Trauma Centre at Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur. In response, the Rajasthan government has ordered a probe into the incident, while relatives of the deceased patients have alleged negligence and a lack of firefighting equipment. The fire reportedly started around 11.20 p.m. in the storeroom of the Neuro ICU ward, where paper, ICU equipment, and blood sampler tubes were stored.

Also Read:8 killed, 5 critical in SMS Hospital ICU Fire

Speaking to TOI, Dr Deepak Maheshwari, Principal and Controller of SMS Medical College, said, "The ICU was developed in 2015. All the equipment was quite old, and the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for such equipment was for 5 years. We have to arrange the funds, and now we have released Rs 1.5 crore for the maintenance of the burnt ICU."

Government hospitals typically do not insure property or equipment. Instead, they rely on AMCs for maintenance during a fixed period. Any loss from fire or other incidents must therefore be rebuilt through fresh government expenditure. Estimates are currently being prepared for electrical repairs, fire-safety upgrades, and other redevelopment work to restore full ICU functionality. Meanwhile, critically ill patients continue to face delays due to the reduced number of operational beds.

Also Read:Jaipur SMS Hospital Fire: Removed doctor claims safety warnings were ignored

The incident has triggered strong criticism from private healthcare bodies. "Insurance of hospital property is the decision of the individual who owns it. However, in the first place, measures to prevent fire incidents should be ensured. If the same incident had happened in a private hospital and patients lost their lives, the private hospital might have had serious consequences. Since it happened in a govt hospital, no serious action has been taken against anyone," said Dr Vijay Kapoor, President, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society, Jaipur, reports TOI.

sms hospitalhospital fireICU firefire safety

Rumela De Sarkar

With a keen interest in storytelling and a dedication to uncovering facts, Rumela De Sarkar joined Medical Dialogues as a Correspondent in 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Bengal. Rumela covers a wide range of healthcare topics, including medical news, policy updates, and developments related to doctors, hospitals, and medical education