RIMS Fire Claims Five Newborn Lives, TGHRC Seeks Detailed Report

The death toll in the fire that broke out at the government RIMS Hospital in Adilabad district has risen to five, with two more newborns dying during treatment on Wednesday, police said. The fire occurred late Monday night at the hospital’s Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), where critically ill infants were receiving treatment.

The incident occurred around midnight when flames reportedly erupted from an air-conditioning unit inside the SNCU. A preliminary assessment suggested that a short circuit may have triggered the fire. The flames are believed to have spread to plastic components in the AC, quickly filling the newborn care unit with thick smoke and creating a dangerous situation for the infants receiving treatment.

There were 27 newborns in the SNCU when the fire broke out. Hospital authorities and emergency personnel immediately evacuated the babies and shifted them to different private hospitals to ensure they received continued medical care. The evacuation was carried out amid concerns over the condition of the critically ill and premature infants.

A premature baby, aged less than a month, was declared dead after being brought to a hospital following the incident. Two other newborns died on Tuesday, while two more succumbed while undergoing treatment on Wednesday. The latest deaths have taken the overall toll in the incident to five.

Meanwhile, the condition of some of the other infants improved following treatment. Four newborns were subsequently taken home by their parents, according to officials.

Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarsimha visited RIMS on Tuesday and reviewed the situation following the fire. He said an expert committee would conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, including the cause of the fire, possible lapses in hospital safety arrangements and administrative shortcomings.

The committee is also expected to examine the safety systems in place at the SNCU and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has separately taken suo motu cognisance of the incident based on media reports. TGHRC Chairperson Shameem Akhtar directed the Principal Secretary of the Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department to submit a detailed report.