Fire in Adilabad Hospital's Newborn Ward Kills Two Infants

Two infants died after a fire erupted in the Special Newborn Care Unit of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad, Telangana, on Tuesday night. The blaze started shortly after midnight when a short circuit caused an air‑conditioning unit to explode, sending flames and thick smoke into the ward. At the time, 27 newborns were receiving treatment; 24 were caught in the fire. One baby perished on the spot and another succumbed while receiving care, while the remaining 22 were moved for treatment. Hospital staff switched off the power and transferred the infants to an adjoining ward as attendants fled the smoke‑filled room. Firefighters arrived and brought the flames under control. Several babies later showed health problems from smoke inhalation. Some were taken to private hospitals in Adilabad, others to facilities in Nizamabad. Adilabad collector Rajarshi Shah and police superintendent Akhil Mahajan inspected the scene and questioned staff. Police have filed a case and begun probing the electrical and fire‑safety systems to find any lapses. Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy called the deaths “extremely painful”, offered condolences and ordered that the surviving infants receive the best possible care. He also directed an inquiry into the fire’s cause and instructed a review of fire‑safety measures across all state hospitals.