Disaster
Two infants die in fire at Telangana government hospital, 25 shifted to safety
Two infants died in a fire that broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of the government-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad, Telangana, late Monday night, officials said.
The fire started around 11:50 p.m. in the newborn intensive care unit. Twenty-seven infants were being treated at the unit, and 25 were transferred to private hospitals after the fire. Two babies died and two others were in critical condition.
A preliminary investigation indicated an air conditioning unit may have malfunctioned and started the fire, but officials said an enquiry would determine the cause.
Firefighters got the blaze under control, and hospital staff and others helped evacuate the infants. During the rescue, thick smoke filled the ward.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed condolences over the deaths and instructed officials to provide medical care to the surviving infants. He ordered an investigation into the incident and requested the authorities to strengthen safety measures in hospitals.