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Bihar polls will be conducted in two phases on Nov 6 and Nov 11; counting of votes to be done on November 14, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Six critical patients died after a fire broke out late on Sunday night at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, officials said.

Trauma centre in-charge Dr Anurag Dhakad said the blaze began in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, where 11 patients were being treated at the time. He added that a suspected short circuit was believed to have caused the fire.

The deceased were identified as Pintu from Sikar; Dilip from Andhi, Jaipur; Shrinath, Rukmini and Khurma from Bharatpur; and Bahadur from Sanganer, Jaipur.

“Six of them, two women and four men, died in the incident,” Dr Dhakad said. “Fourteen other patients were admitted in a different ICU, and all were successfully evacuated to safer locations,” he added.

The fire caused chaos as thick smoke spread rapidly across the floor, triggering panic among patients and their families. Hospital staff and attendants worked together to evacuate patients, moving some out of the building along with their beds.

The blaze destroyed various documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes and other stored items. Firefighters arrived soon after being alerted and brought the flames under control within about two hours.

Officials said the ward was filled with smoke when the fire team reached the spot. Firefighters had to break a window on the opposite side of the building to begin dousing the flames.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham visited the trauma centre to review the situation.

However, the visit of Patel and Bedham was marked by anger from some patient attendants, who alleged that staff had fled during the fire and failed to provide updates on their loved ones’ conditions.

“We noticed smoke and immediately informed the staff, but they did not pay any heed. When the fire broke out, they were the first to run. Now, we cannot get any information about our patients. We want to know their condition, but no one is telling us,” one attendant said.

11:50 PM

Assault on judiciary, Constitution: Oppn parties condemn attack on CJI

Leaders of opposition parties condemned an attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai on Monday, saying it is an assault on the Constitution and it shows how hate and fanaticism have engulfed the society. The Congress, CPI, CPI(M), NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK and other parties were unanimous in condemning the attack on the CJI

10:27 PM

Delhi govt to approach SC for lifting ban on green firecrackers during Diwali: CM Gupta

The Delhi government, respecting the sentiments of people, will move the SC seeking permission for the use of certified green firecrackers on Diwali, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced

9:47 PM

India has to be go-to option for any crisis in subcontinent: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted that India must become the first point of contact for addressing any crisis in the subcontinent. Speaking at the Aravalli Summit on “India and the World Order: Preparing for 2047” at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he stated that India needs to take the lead in providing the infrastructure for cooperation during times of political instability.

8:51 PM

PM Modi speaks to CJI Gavai, says attack on him angered every India

PM Narendra Modi spoke to CJI B R Gavai to convey his condemnation of a lawyer's attempt to hurl a shoe at him, and said the attack has angered every Indian.

8:34 PM

High-stakes bypoll to Jubilee Hills assembly seat on Nov 11

The high-stakes bypoll to Jubilee Hills assembly constituency here will take place on November 11, with votes to be counted on November 14

7:44 PM

Mob attack in flood-hit Nagrakata leaves BJP MP bloodied; CM, governor visit north Bengal

A day after torrential rains devastated large parts of north Bengal, claiming at least 28 lives, political tensions flared as BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh were injured when a mob attacked them during their visit to the flood- and landslide-affected Nagrakata area in Jalpaiguri district.

7:06 PM

Indian govt to send multi-party delegations to UNGA

Two multi-party delegations of parliamentarians headed by BJP MPs P P Chaudhary and Daggubati Purandeswari will be representing India at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

5:39 PM

By-poll to Jharkhand's Ghatshila on Nov 11: EC

Bye-election to the Ghatshila (ST) assembly constituency in Jharkhand will be conducted on November 11, along with the second phase of Bihar polls, the EC said

5:02 PM

EC to hold seven bypolls alongside Bihar elections

Alongwith with Bihar, the poll body will also conduct by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.

4:41 PM

Bihar elections to be held in two phases on Nov 6 and 11, result on Nov 14

Bihar elections will be conducted in two phases on Nov 6 and Nov 11; counting of votes to be done on November 14, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

4:32 PM

Average 818 voters per polling booth, webcasting facilities at all polling booths, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Bihar has shown the way to the nation on purifying voter lists, says Chief Election C Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

4:26 PM

Fake news on social media and other platform will be countered strictly, says chief election commissioner

"New voter cards will be issued to those added this time and to anyone who has made changes to their voter IDs. Earlier, it used to take many days, but we have formulated SOPs to provide them within 15 days," says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

4:23 PM

Window for objections still open for post-SIR voter list, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The window remains open for objections to additions or deletions in the Bihar voter list during the SIR exercise, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

4:19 PM

Bihar has 1.4 million first-time voters: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Bihar has 74.2 million voters, of which 39.2 million are male, 35 million are female, and 1.4 million are first-time voters, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said.

4:14 PM

SIR exercise has sanitised electoral rolls: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

"The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sanitised the electoral rolls. All political parties and individuals were invited to file objections and claims once the draft was published. The final draft was published on September 30," CEC Gyanesh Kumar said today.

First Published: Oct 06 2025 | 9:50 AM IST