Published Sep 23, 2026 | 6:14 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2026 | 6:14 PM
A suspected electrical short circuit sparked the blaze on Monday, 21 September.
Synopsis: The death toll from the fire and smoke that spread across the Special Newborn Care Unit of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Telangana’s Adilabad rose to five late on Tuesday after two more babies died while undergoing treatment. Three babies had died on Monday, after a suspected electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit sparked a blaze in the neonatal unit. The state government, meanwhile, announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the families of deceased babies, even as the State Human Rights Commission sought a report on the tragedy.
The death toll from the fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, rose to five after two more premature infants died while undergoing treatment on the night of Tuesday, 22 September.
The two infants were among the newborns rescued after the fire broke out at the SNCU late on Monday, 21 September. Both were extremely premature and had been receiving critical care in the neonatal unit.
One of the infants, a five-day-old baby born at 25 weeks of pregnancy, was from Dubbaguda village in Indervelli mandal. The infant was shifted for further treatment but later succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire.
The other infant, a two-day-old baby born at 28 weeks of pregnancy, was from Lingapur mandal in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. The infant also died while undergoing treatment.
The deaths take the toll from the incident to five. Three preterm babies, all aged below a month, had died earlier after suffering from asphyxiation and inhaling toxic smoke and gases during the fire.
District health officials have attributed the deaths to the effects of smoke inhalation and breathing difficulties caused by the fire. Around 25 newborns were being treated in incubators in the SNCU when the incident occurred.
Security guards, ambulance drivers and hospital staff rescued 20 infants and shifted them to other wards and hospitals. The condition of two other newborns is reportedly critical.
Also Read: The fiery night Adilabad RIMS lost three babies
The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the family of each child who died in the RIMS fire.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said the compensation would be provided as per Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s directions. The Minister also reviewed the health condition of babies currently undergoing treatment at hospitals in Adilabad.
He directed officials to shift children to major hospitals in Hyderabad for advanced medical care, if necessary.
The Minister also announced that construction of a 150-bed Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centre at RIMS would begin on a “war footing”. The centre will be equipped with modern facilities and made operational as soon as possible, he said.
Also Read: Three infants die after late-night fire at RIMS neonatal unit in Adilabad
The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has taken suo-motu cognisance of the incident and sought a detailed report from the Principal Secretary, Health, Medical and Family Welfare.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Commission said media reports had raised questions about the safety and maintenance arrangements at the SNCU, including the condition of air-conditioning and electrical installations, fire alarms, firefighting equipment and emergency evacuation arrangements.
The Commission has asked the Health Department to provide details of the circumstances leading to the fire, the safety arrangements in the SNCU, measures taken to rescue and treat the affected infants, and findings of any inquiry into the incident.
The matter has been posted for further consideration on 27 October.
A five-member committee has also been constituted to investigate the cause of the fire. Initial reports indicated concerns about the maintenance of air-conditioning systems and the infrastructure at RIMS.
The fire reportedly began after an explosion involving air-conditioning units, following which dense smoke spread through the neonatal unit.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
