HYDERABAD: Two infants, including a five-day-old baby, died after a fire broke out at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad late Monday night.Officials said at least 25 other newborns were evacuated from the ward and shifted to safety. They were in stable condition.According to officials, the fire broke out around 11.50pm while the children and their attendants were inside the unit.They added that preliminary investigations indicated that an electrical short circuit in a window air conditioner may have triggered the blaze. The exact cause of the fire, however, is yet to be established.The SNCU is a hospital ward that provides round-the-clock care for sick, premature or low-birth-weight newborns who need extra medical attention.Adilabad station fire officer D Jayatram told TOI that the children were present in the ward when the fire broke out. “The fire appears to have originated from the AC due to a short circuit. The ward quickly filled with smoke, and the children were evacuated. While one infant is believed to have died due to asphyxiation, the other one passed away while undergoing treatment,” he added.Some of the attendants present in the ward were affected by smoke inhalation. A fire tender was rushed to the spot, while district authorities and police also reached the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha expressed grief over the deaths. The CM also ordered an inquiry into the incident. He directed officials to submit a report on the cause of the fire and asked them to ensure the best possible treatment for the children undergoing treatment while closely monitoring their health.
