Hyderabad: In a tragic incident, three newborns, only days old, died after an air conditioner exploded late Monday night in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the government-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sci…

Hyderabad: In a tragic incident, three newborns, only days old, died after an air conditioner exploded late Monday night in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the government-run Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad, Telangana.Around 27 infants were undergoing treatment in incubators in the unit at the time. The explosion sent thick black smoke billowing through the ward, leaving the infants struggling to breathe. Staff and medical officers rushed in, broke open windows and glass panes, and switched off the power supply before carrying the babies out to safety.A preliminary assessment attributed the explosion to a short circuit. A five-day-old baby, daughter of Saleem from Ichoda, died on the spot. Another infant died shortly after. A 20-day-old baby in critical condition was shifted to Nizamabad Government Hospital, where the child later succumbed during treatment. The remaining 24 infants were shifted to nearby private hospitals, where officials and doctors said their condition is stable. Firefighters brought the blaze under control later.Fire guts four-storey building, cops suspect crackers during idol processionAdilabad Collector Rajarshi Shah confirmed that around 27 babies were in the unit when the fire broke out. The incident caused panic among attendants, many of whom rushed out of the ward carrying their children. Following the incident, the parents of five infants took their babies home.Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha, who visited RIMS Hospital, expressed deep shock over the deaths and enquired into the causes of the accident. He said a committee had been formed to investigate the incident and that further action would follow once its report was submitted, with action expected within a week. He assured that special attention would be given to emergency, hematology, and maternal and child healthcare services at RIMS, with improved facilities to be provided.”The deaths of three infants are deeply painful. The government has taken this incident seriously,” Rajanarsimha said.An eyewitness, who was at the hospital to visit a patient, recalled the chaos and said a nurse rushed in saying there had been a blast and smoke was spreading, prompting everyone to rush inside. “By then, thick black smoke had already spread. It was completely dark, and there was no power either. We managed to carry out some of the infants,” the witness said.Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the fire, calling the deaths of the infants extremely painful and offering condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to ensure better medical care for children undergoing treatment at the hospital and to continuously monitor their health. He also ordered an inquiry into the causes of the incident, sought a detailed report, and called for safety measures to be strengthened across all hospitals to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Source: Deccan Herald