A Night of Horror In a heartbreaking incident, three newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, Telangana, late Monday night, September 21.
The fire, suspected to be caused by an AC blast due to a short circuit, filled the neonatal ward with thick smoke and toxic fumes, triggering a desperate rescue operation. Some latest reports suggest the death toll has risen to 5.
How the Incident Happened
According to officials, the fire broke out around 11:30 PM – 11:50 PM on September 21 when around 27-28 preterm newborns were admitted in the SNCU for treatment of jaundice and breathing issues.
Preliminary investigation suggests an electrical short circuit in a window AC unit caused it to explode and catch fire. The ward was instantly engulfed in thick black smoke.
Hospital staff, attendants, security guards and parents broke glass windows to rescue the babies. Power supply was switched off and fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after more than an hour.
The Victims
The three initial victims were all extreme preterm baby girls, all weighing around 1 to 1.3 kg, and were yet to be named:
First victim: A 5-day-old baby from Ichoda died during evacuation at 12:30 AM.
Second victim: Daughter of Shaik Bai, died at 4:35 AM on Tuesday at a private hospital in Adilabad.
Third victim: A 2-day-old baby of Saba Samreen from Utnoor, rushed to Government General Hospital (GGH) Nizamabad, died at 6:15 AM due to smoke inhalation.
Two more infants are in critical condition – one on ventilator and one on oxygen support. Around 20-22 other rescued babies have been shifted to nearby private hospitals and GGH Nizamabad. Their condition is being closely monitored.
Government Action and Inquiry
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep grief and ordered a detailed inquiry. Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha visited RIMS Adilabad and inspected the ward.
The Telangana government has formed a 5-member committee to probe the incident. The committee will check whether poor maintenance of ACs, lack of fire safety audit, or electrical lapses caused the tragedy.
Police have registered a case and are investigating. District Collector Rajarshi Shah confirmed the incident and said all rescued infants are being monitored.