Telangana hospital fire: Death toll rises to 5 as two more infants die
Synopsis
Five premature newborns are dead after a midnight AC fire tore through the Special Newborn Care Unit of a government hospital in Adilabad, Telangana. With roughly 25 infants rescued by staff and attendants, the disaster has triggered a ministerial visit, three safety audits, and an expert inquiry — raising hard questions about fire safety in India's public hospital neonatal wards.
Key Takeaways
Five newborn infants have died after a fire broke out in the SNCU ward of RIMS, Adilabad , Telangana, on Monday midnight, 22 September 2026 .
An electrical short circuit in an air-conditioner is the preliminary cause; burning plastic components spread thick smoke through the ward.
Approximately 25 infants were rescued by hospital staff and patient attendants.
Damodar Raja Narasimha ordered electrical, fire, and civil structural safety audits and announced an expert committee inquiry .
A new 150-bed Mother and Child Health (MCH) building was announced, which would expand RIMS capacity from 800 to approximately 950 beds .
Five newborn infants have died following a devastating fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, Telangana, after two more babies succumbed to burn injuries on 23 September, pushing the toll from an initial three. The fire broke out around midnight on Monday when an air-conditioner in the SNCU reception area caught fire, rapidly filling the ward with thick smoke.
How the Fire Unfolded
Preliminary inquiries indicate an electrical short circuit triggered a blaze in the AC unit; the burning of plastic components associated with the air-conditioner caused thick smoke to spread through the ward. A fire tender was rushed to the hospital and the blaze was brought under control. Hospital staff and patient attendants managed to rescue approximately 25 infants from the smoke-filled unit.
Of the first three deaths, a five-day-old preterm baby died immediately in the incident, a four-day-old preterm baby succumbed four hours later, and a two-day-old girl born prematurely at 28 weeks died while being transferred to another facility. Of the two subsequent deaths, one newborn died while undergoing treatment at RIMS itself, and the other passed away while being shifted to Nirmal town.
Minister's Visit and Response
Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha visited RIMS and inspected the fire site, expressing grief over the deaths and conveying condolences to the bereaved families. He met with District Collector Rajarshi Shah, RIMS officials, and doctors to review rescue operations and the medical condition of surviving infants.
The minister cautioned that full clarity on whether safety lapses or maintenance negligence contributed to the fire will only emerge after a comprehensive inquiry. He announced the constitution of an expert committee to conduct that inquiry and ordered electrical safety, fire safety, and civil structural safety audits of the facility.
Infrastructure Overhaul Announced
'Based on the expert committee's report and the safety audits, we will formulate comprehensive proposals for the government covering necessary repairs, additional infrastructure, renovation works, construction of new buildings, and the recruitment of additional staff,' Raja Narasimha said.
He also announced the establishment of a new 150-bed Mother and Child Health (MCH) building at RIMS to strengthen maternal and newborn care. RIMS currently operates approximately 800 beds; the proposed MCH block would expand capacity to around 950 beds, moving the hospital toward super-specialty status.
What Comes Next
The expert committee's findings, combined with the three safety audits, are expected to determine accountability and shape the scope of repairs and upgrades. The tragedy raises urgent questions about fire safety compliance in public hospital neonatal units — this is not the first such incident in Indian government hospitals — and will likely draw scrutiny from health regulators and the Telangana government in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But it follows the tragedy rather than preceding it. India has seen a pattern of hospital fire incidents in government facilities, and each cycle of inquiry, audit, and announcement has rarely translated into enforceable safety norms with real consequences for non-compliance. Until accountability is tied to named officials and penalty frameworks, these responses risk becoming administrative ritual rather than structural reform.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the fire at RIMS Adilabad's newborn ward?
Preliminary inquiries indicate that an electrical short circuit caused a fire in the air-conditioner unit in the SNCU reception area. The burning of plastic components associated with the AC spread thick smoke through the ward, according to officials. A full inquiry is underway to determine whether safety lapses or maintenance negligence were contributing factors.
How many infants died in the Adilabad RIMS hospital fire?
Five newborn infants have died as of 23 September 2026. Three died in the immediate aftermath of the midnight fire — including a five-day-old and a four-day-old preterm baby — while two more succumbed to burn injuries subsequently, one at RIMS and one during transfer to Nirmal town.
What action has the Telangana government taken after the fire?
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha visited RIMS, ordered electrical, fire, and civil structural safety audits, and announced an expert committee to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. He also announced the construction of a new 150-bed Mother and Child Health building to upgrade RIMS toward super-specialty status.
How many infants were rescued from the RIMS SNCU fire?
Approximately 25 infants were rescued from the smoke-filled Special Newborn Care Unit by hospital staff and the attendants of patients. A fire tender was deployed and brought the blaze under control.
What is the current capacity of RIMS Adilabad and what is being planned?
RIMS currently operates approximately 800 beds. The newly announced 150-bed Mother and Child Health building would expand the hospital's capacity to around 950 beds, according to the Health Minister, as part of an effort to upgrade it to a super-specialty facility.
