Two newborns lost their lives after a fire broke out at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital in Adilabad, Telangana, late on Monday night, 22 September. The blaze erupted around midnight in the hospital's Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU), with preliminary investigation suggesting the fire was triggered by an air conditioner blast.

What Happened Inside the Ward

Emergency teams swiftly moved to evacuate 25 children from the smoke-filled neonatal ward. Hospital staff, ambulance drivers, and locals broke windows to pull newborns to safety. Despite the rapid response, the entire unit was engulfed in smoke, causing several infants to develop respiratory complications.

According to Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah, the two newborns who died had been on ventilator support at the time of the incident. He stated that the condition of the other evacuated children was stable, though four infants shifted to private hospitals are reported to be in a critical condition.

Administration on the Ground

District Collector Rajarshi Shah and Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan rushed to the hospital and personally supervised rescue and relief operations. A fire tender was deployed promptly and brought the blaze under control. The AC blast, which officials say set off the fire, triggered widespread panic among patients and their attendants at the district headquarters hospital.

Chief Minister Orders Inquiry

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed anguish over the tragedy, describing the deaths as 'deeply distressing' and conveying condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for infants still under treatment and to monitor their condition continuously.

Chief Minister Reddy ordered a formal inquiry into the causes of the fire and called for a detailed report. He also directed that safety measures be strengthened across all government hospitals to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Political Reaction

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao expressed shock over the incident in a post on social media platform X. 'Shocked and anguished to learn about the fire accident at Special Newborn Care Unit at RIMS Adilabad. One infant has died and more than 20 kids also suffered in the accident. My prayers for the well being of all the little ones,' he wrote.

This incident follows a broader pattern of fire safety concerns at government hospitals across India, where ageing electrical infrastructure — particularly HVAC systems — has been flagged repeatedly by auditors but rarely acted upon at speed. The tragedy is likely to renew calls for mandatory periodic safety audits at public health facilities, especially in high-dependency wards such as neonatal units.