After ICU fire kills 6, Jaipur hospital superintendent, Trauma Centre in-charge removed from post
The Rajasthan government has also announced Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who died in the tragedy.
Written by Parul Kulshrestha
Jaipur | Updated: October 6, 2025 09:46 PM IST
3 min read
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According to officials, the fire is believed to have been caused by a short circuit and broke out at around 11.20 pm in Neurosurgery ICU 1.
After six patients died in a fire that broke out late on Sunday night at an ICU in the Trauma Centre at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Hospital, the superintendent of the hospital and the nodal officer of the Trauma Centre were removed from their posts.
Dr Sushil Kumar Bhati, who is a senior professor in the Department of Anaesthesia, Medical College, Jaipur, was replaced as SMS Hospital superintendent by Dr Mrinal Joshi, senior professor in the PMR Department, with immediate effect, a Rajasthan government order said.
Dr Anurag Dhakad, a senior professor at the Department of Orthopedics, was replaced as the nodal officer of the Trauma Centre by Dr Bhanwar Lal Yadav, senior professor, Department of General Surgery, the order said.
The government has also announced Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who died in the tragedy.
According to officials, the fire is believed to have been caused by a short circuit and broke out at around 11.20 pm in Neurosurgery ICU 1. At the time, there were 11 patients in the ICU, and the ward filled with thick smoke from the fire, witnesses said. Officials said the patients in the ICU where the fire broke out were moved to other ICUs within the trauma centre, but six people lost their lives.
Before he was removed from his post, Dr Anurag Dakhad said, “Six people, two women and four men, died. Five are undergoing treatment. Fourteen other patients were admitted in a different ICU, and all were successfully evacuated to safer locations.”
Authorities identified the dead as Pintu, Dilip, Shrinath, Rukmini, Khushma, and Bahadur.
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SMS Hospital’s Trauma and Orthopaedic Institute has 46 beds across four ICUs — they were all occupied — and six general wards, where approximately 250 patients are admitted. The facility also has eight operating rooms, where 40–50 surgeries are performed daily.
Nursing staff at the hospital claimed that no mock fire drill had been conducted at the hospital in a long time and that they had not received training to deal with these kinds of situations.
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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