Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Sep 22: Three infants died after a fire broke out at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Government Hospital in Adilabad late Monday night, triggering a frantic rescue operation as thick smoke filled the neonatal ward.
The fire broke out at around 11.30 pm on Monday, with preliminary reports indicating that an air-conditioning unit malfunctioned following an electrical short circuit and caught fire. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be established and is being investigated.
Around 27 infants were undergoing treatment in the SNCU when the incident occurred. Hospital staff and family members raised an alarm after smoke rapidly spread through the ward. The power supply was switched off as a precaution, while staff and attendants rushed to evacuate the babies.
In the rescue operation, hospital personnel and family members reportedly broke glass panes to reach the infants trapped inside the smoke-filled unit. Fire department personnel also rushed to the hospital and brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the building.
One of the deceased infants was a five-day-old baby from Ichoda. The child died during the evacuation. Another infant died while being shifted for further treatment, while a third succumbed on Tuesday morning after reportedly suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
Several other infants were affected by smoke and were shifted to private hospitals in Adilabad and Nizamabad for emergency treatment. Officials said the condition of most of the surviving children was being closely monitored, with some requiring specialised medical care.
RIMS Director Jaisingh, who was reportedly on rounds when the incident occurred, rushed to the SNCU and supervised the evacuation along with hospital staff and ambulance personnel.
Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah and Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan also reached the hospital and reviewed the rescue and treatment arrangements. Shah said a detailed inquiry would establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether there were any safety lapses.
The incident prompted an immediate response from the Telangana government. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed his condolences to the families of the infants.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the children who survived the incident and ordered continuous monitoring of their health. He also ordered an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the fire and directed authorities to submit a report.
Reddy further instructed officials to strengthen fire and other safety measures in hospitals across Telangana to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha also spoke to senior officials following the incident and directed that an immediate inquiry be conducted into the cause of the fire.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Officials are examining the electrical and fire-safety arrangements at the SNCU to determine how the incident occurred and whether any lapses contributed to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, BRS Adilabad district president and former minister Jogu Ramanna visited the hospital and alleged negligence by the hospital administration. He questioned the maintenance and continued operation of the air-conditioning system and demanded compensation for the families of the infants who died. His allegations have not been independently established.
The neonatal ward suffered damage in the fire, while emergency measures were taken to ensure that the surviving infants received treatment at other facilities.
The incident has also renewed concerns over fire safety and emergency preparedness in neonatal and critical-care units, where newborns require immediate assistance during an emergency.