A late-night fire at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, Telangana, has left three infants dead according to the latest available report, while dozens of newborns were evacuated from the hospital’s Special Newborn Care Unit.
The blaze broke out late Monday night, with reports placing the incident shortly before midnight. Firefighters, hospital employees and emergency personnel rushed to evacuate babies as smoke spread through the neonatal ward. Around 28 newborns were reported to have been rescued from the affected area.
Early reports carried different casualty figures as information emerged from the hospital. Initial coverage confirmed the death of a five-day-old infant, while later reports put the toll at two. The latest Indian Express report subsequently said that three infants had died.
RIMS neonatal unit fire investigation begins after infant deaths
The fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit, where infants were undergoing treatment. According to the latest report, staff members and parents helped move babies from the smoke-filled ward, and two nurses and some hospital employees suffered burn injuries during the rescue effort.
Fire personnel brought the blaze under control after reaching the hospital, while police began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are expected to examine the hospital’s electrical installations, fire-control equipment and emergency procedures.
Several reports have linked the incident to an air-conditioning unit inside the SNCU. The New Indian Express reported that the fire occurred after an air-conditioner reportedly exploded, while earlier official-linked reporting said the exact cause had not yet been confirmed. Therefore, the AC-related explanation should be treated as a preliminary report rather than an established finding.
Telangana hospital fire safety probe examines cause and response
The Telangana government has ordered an inquiry into the RIMS Adilabad fire, and the latest Indian Express report says a safety audit has also been ordered following the deaths.
Investigators are expected to determine where the fire originated, whether electrical or cooling equipment malfunctioned and how effectively the hospital’s emergency systems operated during the evacuation.
The incident has also renewed concerns over fire preparedness in neonatal and intensive-care units, where patients often cannot be evacuated without specialised medical support.
For now, the safest confirmed account is that a fire struck the neonatal unit at RIMS Adilabad, around 28 newborns were rescued, and the latest reporting places the death toll at three infants. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
