In a grim reminder of safety lapses in healthcare infrastructure, at least three newborn babies have lost their lives following a devastating fire at a government-run medical facility in Telangana's Adilabad district. The tragic incident occurred in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), sending shockwaves across the state and raising serious questions about hospital maintenance and fire safety standards.
Short Circuit in AC Unit Sparks Midnight Blaze
The incident unfolded late Monday night at around 11:40 PM when a loud blast was heard from one of the air conditioning units inside the SNCU ward. According to preliminary reports, a sudden short circuit in the AC triggered the fire, which quickly filled the entire ward with thick, toxic smoke. Since the unit housed vulnerable newborn babies, including several premature infants, the situation turned critical within minutes as smoke inhalation severely compromised their breathing.
Hospital staff rushed to the spot in panic and started moving the babies out of the suffocating room. Police and fire tenders were immediately summoned to the location. Firefighters managed to bring the flames under control before they could spread to other parts of the medical facility, averting a much larger catastrophe.
Rescue Operations and Evacuation of 24 Infants
At the time of the mishap, over 24 newborn babies were admitted inside the SNCU ward. Emergency response teams, alongside doctors and nurses, worked tirelessly under immense pressure to rescue the infants. Tragically, one premature baby, approximately 26 weeks old, succumbed during the immediate evacuation process.
The remaining infants, many of whom required critical care, were swiftly transported in ambulances to super-specialty hospitals in neighboring districts like Nizamabad, as well as alternative advanced care centers, to ensure uninterrupted medical support.
Death Toll Rises as Two More Infants Succumb
Despite the frantic medical interventions, the death toll unfortunately climbed to three after two more infants passed away during treatment at the referral hospitals. District authorities confirmed that a five-day-old infant was among the victims. Pediatric specialists are closely monitoring the condition of the surviving babies, providing them with necessary ventilator support and continuous observation.
High-Level Probe Ordered by District Administration
Top district officials, including Adilabad Collector Rajarshi Shah and Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan, rushed to the hospital immediately after the incident to oversee rescue operations and take stock of the situation. The collector announced a comprehensive inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and determine whether any administrative negligence contributed to the tragedy.
"This is an extremely unfortunate and heartbreaking incident. A detailed investigation has been ordered to uncover the exact cause of the fire and check for any potential negligence. Our primary focus right now is to ensure the safe and optimal treatment of all the children shifted to other centers."— Rajarshi Shah, District Collector, Adilabad
The tragedy has once again turned the spotlight on the pathetic state of electrical safety audits and preventive maintenance in public hospitals, leaving grieving families demanding accountability and stringent justice for their lost children.
