Three infants died after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Telangana’s Adilabad district, officials said on Tuesday.
State Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, who visited the hospital, said an expert committee would carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the fire, possible lapses in safety and administration, and steps needed to prevent such incidents. All 27 infants in the unit were shifted to different private hospitals after the fire.
Citing a preliminary inquiry, the minister said the fire broke out late on Monday in the air-conditioning unit of the SNCU, apparently due to a short circuit. He said thick smoke spread through the unit after plastic parts of the AC caught fire. He added that the exact cause of the fire and any lapses in safety standards would be known only after a detailed inquiry.
The father of a baby girl who died told reporters he had seen his daughter at the hospital shortly before the AC unit caught fire. He said his wife was undergoing treatment at another hospital and expressed grief over how he would tell her about their baby’s death.
Eyewitnesses said they rushed into the ward after learning about the fire, but visibility was very poor and breathing was difficult because of the thick smoke. They said they, along with hospital staff, managed to rescue some of the children with great difficulty.
Officials said one pre-term baby was declared brought dead, while two others died on Tuesday, taking the toll to three. A senior police official said, “Twenty infants are still admitted in different hospitals, while four others were taken home by their parents after their condition became stable.” The health condition of all the children is being monitored continuously, officials said.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the incident and directed officials to provide advanced medical care to the infants undergoing treatment. He also asked officials to submit a report after an inquiry and to take steps to prevent such tragedies in future.
Rajanarasimha inspected the SNCU ward and took details from officials about the relief measures after the fire, the condition of the babies and the treatment being given to them.
He said staff of RIMS, the district administration, fire services and police personnel took immediate steps to shift the babies from the unit. He said the power supply was cut off and emergency treatment was given to the infants.
The minister said 800 beds are currently available at RIMS and another 150 would be added. He said the hospital would be strengthened by introducing new departments and setting up an emergency wing to treat road accident victims and others. He also said electrical, fire safety and civil structure safety audits would be carried out at the hospital.
He said proposals would be prepared on the basis of the safety audit reports for repairs, additional infrastructure, recruitment of more staff and construction of new buildings. He added that strict action would be taken if negligence or irresponsible functioning was found in ensuring safety standards, maintenance and monitoring. The fire at the SNCU left three infants dead, led to the transfer of the other babies for treatment, and has prompted a wider inquiry and safety review at the hospital.
– Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Sep 23, 2026 00:00 IST
