National Human Rights Commission: On 14-10-2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of a media report that eight patients died and three others were critically injured in a fire at the trauma centre ICU of the Government run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 06-10-2025.
Reportedly, the tragic incident at Jaipur’s largest hospital raised grim questions about the preparedness of the administration and the health system. The media report further stated that 18 patients were admitted in the ICU and Semi ICU wards of the hospital when the fire broke out, and the fire and toxic smoke reportedly hampered the rescue operations. The state government has directed the formation of a high-level investigation committee.
NHRC observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation of the victims. Consequently, NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Rajasthan, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of the compensation, if any, provided to the next of kin of the victims.
