A fire broke out late at night in the children’s ward of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital in Adilabad, Telangana, resulting in the death of a newborn baby. Several children were admitted to the ward at the time of the incident. Hospital staff and family members immediately began the rescue operation and safely evacuated 28 children, who were admitted to different private hospitals.
Fire Suspected to Have Started from AC Unit
According to preliminary information, the fire is suspected to have started due to a short circuit in an air conditioner installed in the children’s ward of the hospital. Following the fire, the ward quickly filled with smoke. The incident occurred after midnight, leading to chaos and panic inside the hospital.However, the police have clarified that the actual cause of the fire will be known only after the investigation is completed. Adilabad II Town Police Station SHO K. Nagaraju said that, initially, the possibility of a short circuit in the AC is being suspected.
5-Day-Old Baby Dies
A five-day-old newborn died in the incident. The baby’s body has been sent for post-mortem. According to the police, the children admitted to the ward were immediately evacuated when the fire broke out. Officials said that detailed information regarding the injured and the death would be clarified after the investigation.
28 Children Shifted to Private Hospitals
As soon as the fire was reported, the fire brigade team reached RIMS Hospital and brought the blaze under control. Hospital staff and the children’s family members also helped in the rescue operation. After safely evacuating the children present in the ward, they were shifted to different private hospitals for treatment. After receiving information about the incident, Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah and District Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan also reached the spot. RIMS Director Jai Singh Rathore also arrived at the hospital and took stock of the situation. The officials sought information from the hospital administration about the incident and the relief and rescue operations.
Questions Raised Over Safety Arrangements
Following the fire incident in the children’s ward of the hospital, questions have been raised over fire safety and the maintenance of electrical equipment in government hospitals. In particular, it is being investigated whether adequate fire safety arrangements were in place in the ward and whether electrical equipment was being regularly maintained. Officials have ordered an investigation into the incident. The actual cause of the fire and other details related to the safety arrangements are expected to become clear after the investigation report is released. The hospital administration has been directed to ensure compliance with safety standards.