Published Sep 22, 2026 | 10:22 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 22, 2026 | 12:28 PM
Parents and relatives rushed out of the ward as smoke filled the unit.
Synopsis: Three infants have died after a fire broke out in the SNCU of RIMS, Adilabad, around midnight on Monday, forcing staff to evacuate newborns through a smoke-filled ward. Twenty more infants remain in critical condition after suffering smoke inhalation. They have been shifted to private hospitals in Adilabad and Nizamabad. The police have registered a case, while the district administration and Telangana government have ordered inquiries into the incident.
Three infants have 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 on Monday night, 21 September.
One infant died during the evacuation and another died while being shifted for further treatment. A third infant has since died at a hospital in Nizamabad.
Twenty more infants remain in critical condition after suffering smoke inhalation. They have been shifted to private hospitals in Adilabad and Nizamabad. Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah said 24 infants were present when the fire broke out, although some local reports put the number at 27.
The incident occurred around midnight in the ward, where premature babies and infants being treated for jaundice and breathing difficulties were admitted.
The fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in an air-conditioning unit, filled the neonatal ward with thick smoke.
Hospital staff cut off the power supply and began evacuating the children after the AC unit malfunctioned and caught fire. Fire and police personnel were alerted, and fire tenders brought the blaze under control before it spread to other parts of the hospital.
Parents and relatives rushed out of the ward as smoke filled the unit. The rescue operation reportedly involved breaking the glass of a door to evacuate the newborns from the smoke-filled ward.
A grieving father, speaking at the steps of the Collectorate in Adilabad, said:
“One AC burst. We came out. Then another AC here burst. There was an electrical problem. My daughter lost her life. Imagine how much the other children must be suffering. My family members are in serious condition. There is only one doctor in the hospital. The doctor is not there right now. Four units of blood were transfused there. They took so many children together and just left them there. How many children can one doctor attend to?”
Also Read: Hyderabad auto driver allegedly beaten to death over Rs 20 fare dispute
Collector Rajarshi Shah and Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan reached RIMS after the fire and reviewed the rescue and treatment arrangements. They spoke to hospital staff about the circumstances leading to the fire and directed them to ensure that the affected infants receive medical care.
The Telangana government directory lists Shah as the Adilabad Collector and Mahajan as the district SP. Shah said a detailed inquiry would establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether there were safety lapses.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. A detailed enquiry will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire and identify any lapses, if any,” Shah said.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed his condolences to the families of the two infants and directed officials to provide the best possible treatment to the infants undergoing treatment and to continuously monitor their health.
He ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed the authorities to submit a report on its causes. He also instructed officials to strengthen safety measures in hospitals across Telangana to prevent similar incidents.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha spoke to senior officials after the incident. Officials informed the Minister that the condition of the other children present in the ward was stable and that they were being monitored. He also ordered an immediate inquiry into the cause of the fire.
The police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. The inquiry is expected to examine the electrical and fire-safety systems in the SNCU.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sumit Jha)
