Written by Parul KulshresthaJaipur | Updated: October 7, 2025 05:22 PM IST 3 min readCharred remains after a massive fire broke out in the ICU of the Trauma Centre at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, in Jaipur on Monday. 6 people died during the incident. (Source: ANI Video Grab)In the aftermath of the fire at the trauma centre of Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, which claimed six lives, a hospital official has alleged that repeated warnings about safety lapses and poor maintenance were ignored by higher authorities.Dr Anurag Dhakad, who was removed on Monday as the trauma centre in-charge, claimed that he had repeatedly cautioned senior officials about faulty electrical systems, water leakage, and unsafe construction work that had rendered the facility hazardous.According to Dr Dhakad, his most recent warning was issued on October 3, just two days before the fire. In the letter addressed to the Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, he wrote, “Ongoing construction of the Neuro OT (operation theatre) on the third floor of the Trauma Centre has led to severe water leakage during rains, disrupting surgeries in the operation theatres below. Despite earlier intimations to the PWD department, the problem persists, causing dampness and electrical current to spread through the OT walls and boards, posing serious risks to doctors, staff, and patients. Immediate intervention is required to ensure safe and uninterrupted surgical operations.”Story continues below this adEarlier, on September 9, Dr Dhakad claimed he had raised similar concerns about electrical current leakage through the OT walls and boards, warning that the issue had disrupted surgeries and endangered staff and patients.In another note, he highlighted that the ongoing construction of the Neuro OT had damaged the VRV system, ducts, and electrical panels, and cautioned that any further damage caused by falling debris would be the responsibility of the concerned department.The fire broke out late Sunday night in the Neuro ICU on the second floor of the trauma centre. Six of the 11 patients on critical care support died, while 14 others were rescued from another ICU on the same floor.Sunil Bhati, the SMS Superintendent who was also removed from the post on Monday, acknowledged that he had received the complaint. “Yes, I received the concerns raised by Anurag as it is a routine process. Then we informed the PWD department, and they visited the hospital to do necessary repairs,” said Bhati.Story continues below this adFollowing the incident, the Rajasthan government replaced Dr Bhati and Dr Dhakad with Dr Mrinal Joshi and Dr B L Yadav, respectively. The hospital’s executive engineer, Mukesh Singhal, was suspended, while the fire safety firm’s tender was cancelled and legal proceedings were initiated against the company.A senior official confirmed that an inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the fire and to verify whether earlier warnings about electrical and fire hazards were indeed neglected.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Rajasthan