Full Breakdown
Fire at RIMS Hospital’s Newborn Care Unit Claims Infant Lives
By Drooid · · How we work
The Incident
Late on Monday, September 21, 2026, a fire erupted in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, Telangana. The blaze began around 11:50 p.m., reportedly after an air-conditioner in the unit’s reception area exploded or short-circuited, filling the ward with thick smoke. Staff and attendants broke glass panes to evacuate the infants. Two pre-term babies—aged five and four days—died; a third infant later succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Timeline
- September 21, 2026 – Fire breaks out at ~11:50 p.m.; fire engine arrives and extinguishes the blaze.
- September 22, 2026 – District Collector Rajarshi Shah, DMHO Dr. Sadhana, and RIMS Director Jaisingh give statements; Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy orders an inquiry and a state-wide safety audit.
Data & Statistics
- Infants present in the SNCU at the time: reports vary between 24 and 28.
- Infants rescued and shifted to private hospitals: 22–28 (sources differ).
- Fatalities: two infants (The Hindu, NDTV, Hindustan Times) versus three infants (Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle).
- Injuries: two nurses, several staff members, and three security personnel suffered burns.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed “extremely painful” grief, conveyed condolences, directed that surviving infants receive top-level care, and mandated a detailed inquiry and safety audit of all state hospitals.
- Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha promised government support for bereaved families and instructed officials to begin an inquiry immediately.
- District Collector Rajarshi Shah confirmed the fire’s timing, noted a short-circuit in an AC unit as the preliminary cause, and said a detailed enquiry would determine any safety lapses.
- Dr. Sadhana, ADMH Officer, described how the AC fire ignited the ward and how attendants broke the glass to vent smoke.
- RIMS Director Jaisingh supervised the evacuation, oversaw infant transfers, and pledged cooperation with investigators.
On-the-Ground Reports
Fire officials and police said the ward quickly filled with smoke, prompting mothers and police personnel to enter and rescue children. Attendants broke glass panes to allow smoke to escape. Several staff members sustained burns while carrying infants out of incubators. A fire tender arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control after more than an hour of fighting the flames.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Death toll: Two infants are reported dead by The Hindu, NDTV, Hindustan Times, and MoneyControl; Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle cite three deaths.
- Number of infants present: Sources list 24, 25, 27 or 28 babies in the unit at the time.
- Cause of fire: Most accounts attribute ignition to an AC unit exploding or short-circuiting, but officials have not yet confirmed the exact technical failure.
Why It Matters
The incident exposes vulnerabilities in fire-safety infrastructure within neonatal wards, where smoke can rapidly become lethal. The state’s directive to audit fire-prevention measures across all government hospitals aims to prevent recurrence.
What’s Next
The chief minister has ordered a comprehensive inquiry, with officials required to submit a detailed report on the fire’s cause and any lapses. A statewide safety and fire-prevention audit of all government hospitals will be conducted, and the health department will monitor the ongoing treatment of the rescued infants.