Home / Disasters and Accidents / Infant Fire Tragedy: 3 Babies Die in Telangana Hospital Blaze
Infant Fire Tragedy: 3 Babies Die in Telangana Hospital Blaze
22 Sep
Summary
- Three infants died due to a fire in a special neonatal care unit.
- An alleged AC unit explosion led to the massive fire late Monday night.
- Hospital staff and parents rescued 28 infants from the burning ward.
Three infants tragically lost their lives following a devastating fire that erupted in the special neonatal care unit at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad, Telangana, late on Monday night. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community.
The blaze is suspected to have been caused by an air-conditioning unit exploding shortly after 11:30 pm, rapidly engulfing the ward in flames. Thick smoke filled the incubators, prompting immediate rescue efforts.
In a harrowing scene, parents and hospital staff broke glass panes to reach the vulnerable infants. Their swift actions, along with those of firefighters who battled the blaze for over an hour, resulted in the safe evacuation of approximately 28 infants.
Officials confirmed that one infant died at the scene, another succumbed during treatment on Monday night, and a third died on Tuesday morning due to severe smoke inhalation. The victims' families hail from the Ichchoda, Indravelli, and Utnoor areas.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed his grief and ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident. He directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for all affected infants and mandated a state-wide safety and fire-prevention audit for all government hospitals.
The police and fire department are actively investigating the exact cause of the fire, with preliminary theories pointing towards either an AC unit malfunction or a short circuit.
