Adilabad, Telangana
A late-night fire at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Telangana on Monday left several families devastated. Three newborn baby girls died after a fire broke out in the hospital’s Special Neonatal Care Unit. The incident has left the families grieving, while concerns have also been raised over safety and fire-fighting arrangements at the hospital.
Among the deceased infants was the five-day-old daughter of M. Fasil. The newborn had been admitted to the Special Neonatal Care Unit at RIMS for treatment. After the fire, when Fasil saw his daughter’s body, he was overwhelmed with grief. Struggling to come to terms with the loss, he said, “What will I tell my wife?”
The fire reportedly triggered panic inside the hospital late Monday night. According to preliminary information, a loud explosion occurred in the hospital’s air-conditioning unit, following which the fire spread. At the time of the incident, several newborn babies were undergoing treatment in the specialised unit.
After receiving information about the fire, hospital officials and police teams reached the spot. Efforts were made to bring the blaze under control and evacuate those at risk. The deaths of three newborn girls have left their families shattered.
The bereaved families have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and strict action against those found responsible. They have also appealed to the police for justice.
The tragic incident has raised serious questions about the safety of newborns in hospitals and the adequacy of fire-safety and emergency response systems at medical facilities.
