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ICU at top Jaipur hospital floods on cold night due to ‘rusty pipeline’, critically ill patients moved

Principal secretary of the Medical and Health Department, Gayatri Rathore, ordered a comprehensive inspection of all ICUs at SMS Hospital.

2 min readJaipurJan 13, 2026 08:16 PM IST

Following the incident, the principal secretary of the Medical and Health Department Rajasthan, Gayatri Rathore, visited SMS Hospital.

At around 10 pm on Monday, the polytrauma ICU at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur witnessed chaotic scenes as it began filling up with water due to a pipeline leak amid the biting cold.

Considering the seriousness of the situation, the hospital administration immediately ordered the evacuation of the ICU. All 14 critically ill patients admitted there were safely moved to other ICUs and wards in the emergency department. Doctors and nursing staff carried out the transfer.

SMS Trauma Centre Superintendent B L Yadav told The Indian Express on Tuesday, “I got the information at around 10 pm that the water from a pipeline is leaking in the ICU room. We called up the PWD officials, who checked the area and realised that a very old pipeline, which was covered earlier, had started leaking due to rust. They caught the main problem point and fixed it within an hour. The water was around 4 inches, and has been swept out. Tuesday morning, we fumigated the ICU to avoid any form of germ infection. New patients will be admitted from tomorrow.”

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Following the incident, the principal secretary of the Medical and Health Department, Gayatri Rathore, visited SMS Hospital on Tuesday. She inspected the polytrauma ICU and other facilities, reviewed the situation with hospital officials, and issued necessary instructions to ensure patient safety.

Taking serious note of the incident, Rathore directed officials to initiate strict action against those responsible for negligence. She also ordered a comprehensive technical inspection of all ICUs in the hospital to prevent such incidents in the future.

Hospital officials said patient safety would not be compromised under any circumstances.

Parul Kulshrestha

Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions. Expertise and Experience Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public. Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas: Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight. Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women. Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use. Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More

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