Hyderabad, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two newborns died after a fire broke out at the Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital in Adilabad late on Monday night, triggering a major rescue operation.
The fire broke out around midnight, with preliminary findings indicating that it may have been caused by a blast in an air conditioner installed in the neonatal unit.
Emergency teams, hospital staff, ambulance drivers and local residents rushed to the ward and evacuated 25 children. With the unit filled with smoke, windows were broken to facilitate the rescue of the newborns.
Several children reportedly fell ill after inhaling smoke and were shifted to private hospitals for treatment. Four of them are said to be in critical condition.
Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah and Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan reached the hospital and supervised the rescue and relief operations. The incident triggered panic among patients and attendants at the district headquarters hospital.
According to the District Collector, the two newborns who died had been on ventilator support. He said the condition of the other children was stable.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed anguish over the incident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the two infants. He directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the children undergoing treatment and ordered continuous monitoring of their health.
The Chief Minister also ordered an inquiry into the cause of the fire and directed officials to submit a report. He further instructed authorities to strengthen safety measures across hospitals to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao also expressed shock over the incident. In a post on X, he said he was “shocked and anguished” by the fire and prayed for the recovery of the children affected.
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