JAIPUR: A fire at the Neuro Intensive Care Unit of SMS Medical College here late Sunday night claimed the lives of eight critically ill patients.While 6 patients died in the ICU affected by the fire, 2 others died while being evacuated from a neighbouring ICU. Five patients rescued from the burnt ICU are critical. Rajasthan government on Monday announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the kin of each of the deceased and ordered a comprehensive fire and safety audit of all govt hospitals.The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short-circuit in the ICU’s storage area, went unattended for over 15 minutes despite patients’ attendants raising an alarm. Families of patients who died alleged hospital staff disregarded their warning and fled the premises when the fire broke out.SMS Hospital is the biggest govt-run facility in Rajasthan, catering to critically ill patients referred from district hospitals.What’s happening in Rajasthan government buildings, wonders high courtThe Rajasthan government removed SMS superintendent Dr Sushil Bhati and trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad from their posts.Executive engineer Mukesh Singhal was suspended. The government also cancelled the contract of the fire safety agency, SK Electric Company, and ordered an FIR against it. Dr Mrinal Joshi was appointed the new SMS superintendent and Dr BL Yadav the new trauma centre in-charge.During the hearing of a matter related to a government school building collapse in a Jhalawar village that killed seven students in July, Rajasthan high court verbally remarked Monday, “What is happening in government buildings? Kahin aag lag rahi hai, kahin building gir rahi hai, (Fires are breaking out somewhere, buildings are collapsing somewhere).”Those who died in the fire were Pintu Gurjar of Sikar, Dilip and Bahadur from Jaipur, Shrinath, Rukmini and Kusuma from Bharatpur. The hospital did not identify two patients from ICU-II who died while being shifted. The second ICU, on the same floor, had 13 patients, 11 of whom were evacuated to safety but remain critical.According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started around 11.30 pm and smoke began billowing from the second-floor windows of the ICU, which relatives of patients in the Neuro ICU saw and alerted hospital staff. The first fire engine arrived around 11.45 pm. Seven fire tenders were deployed but the blaze could only be contained around 1.30 am.SMS Hospital’s fire NOC was auto-renewed by Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Greater in May.“We saw smoke and then flames rapidly spreading. People, including hospital staff, were running here and there in panic. I don’t think any fire extinguisher or safety equipment was working,” Vikram, brother of deceased patient Pintu Gurjar, said.Gurjar, 35, who was treated for a brain tumour, was scheduled to be discharged from hospital in a day or two. Vikram, who rushed to Gurjar’s rescue, also claimed he fell unconscious because of the dense smoke. He and other attendants have demanded a thorough probe into the hospital’s alleged negligence.The hospital administration said all victims were critically ill but accepted that patients died of asphyxiation or burn injuries. Dr Anurag Dhakad, in charge of the trauma centre, said, “Eleven patients were undergoing treatment in the Neuro ICU when the fire broke out. Six patients — two women and four men — succumbed.”As the fire spread, hospital staff, police and attendants rushed to evacuate patients from the neighbouring ICU and wards.Abdul Naushad, an attendant of a patient admitted on the first floor, recounted, “I was on the ground floor when I heard screams and saw people running down from the ICU on the first floor. Many attendants carried ICU beds and patients down to safety.”Vikas, a ward boy involved in rescue efforts, said, “We were inside the operating theatre when the fire was reported. We initially managed to save three to four patients but we had to retreat as the fire intensified.”Expressing grief over the incident, PM Modi said on X: “The loss of lives due to a fire tragedy at a hospital in Jaipur is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”CM Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered probe by a six-member panel into the incident.