Adilabad, Sept. 22 : In a major tragedy at a state-run healthcare facility, three newborn baby girls died, two others were critically hospitalized, and 19 infants were rescued after inhaling toxic fumes caused by air conditioner explosions in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad late on Monday night. District Medical and Health Officer Dr. P. Sadhana confirmed that the deceased infants—belonging to mothers from Ichoda, Indervelli, and Utnoor mandals were all preterm babies weighing under 1.5 kg who succumbed to asphyxiation between midnight and Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred around midnight when an electrical short circuit triggered an explosion in the overused AC units, filling the SNCU with dense, poisonous smoke where 23 infants were being treated in incubators. Panic ensued as automated doors locked following the blast while duty staff fled the scene. A mother raised the alarm, prompting security guards, ambulance drivers, and patient attendants to break into the ward and rescue 22 infants. Fire personnel eventually arrived to extinguish the blazes, and evacuated newborns were shifted to various local hospitals for emergency care.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed profound grief over the incident, directing authorities to ensure high-quality medical support for the surviving infants and ordering a comprehensive investigation alongside safety audits in all government hospitals across Telangana. Health Minister Damodara Rajanarasimha, Health Secretary Dr. M. Christina Z. Chongthu, Collector Rajarshi Shah, and Superintendent of Police Gaush Alam visited RIMS to inspect the damaged ward and review the situation. The Health Minister confirmed that a formal inquiry was underway and assured strict action against anyone found responsible for maintenance lapses.
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