3 hrs ago
Telangana Hospital Fire Kills Two or Three Infants
A fire started late Monday in a hospital room where newborn babies were being cared for.
Reports said an air-conditioning unit may have exploded and started the fire.
Smoke quickly filled the enclosed ward.
Parents and hospital workers broke the glass windows to let the smoke out and rescue the babies.
About 28 infants were moved to nearby private hospitals.
Two nurses and other hospital staff were hurt during the rescue.
Reports disagreed about how many babies died, saying either two or three.
Two babies were reported to be five and four days old.
Officials said the other rescued children were stable and had no complications.
Telangana’s chief minister ordered an investigation into what caused the fire.
A fire broke out late Monday in the Special Newborn Care Unit at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad.
Reports differed on the death toll, with one report saying two infants died and another saying three.
The fire allegedly began around 11:30 p.m. after an air-conditioning unit in the reception area exploded.
Parents and hospital staff rescued about 28 infants by breaking glass windows as smoke filled the ward.
Two nurses and several hospital staff were injured, while Chief Minister Revanth Reddy ordered an inquiry.
- Who
- Infants in the neonatal unit, along with parents, nurses, hospital staff, firefighters and state officials, were involved.
- What
- A fire broke out in the hospital’s Special Newborn Care Unit; reports differed on whether two or three infants died.
- Where
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad, Telangana.
- When
- The fire began at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday; one report said a third infant died Tuesday morning.
- Why
- The fire allegedly started when an air-conditioning unit in the reception area exploded.
Three-Infant Death Report
Two-Infant Death Report
Reported death toll
Three-Infant Death Report
One report said three infants died: one at the scene, one during treatment Monday night and one Tuesday morning from smoke inhalation.
Two-Infant Death Report
Another report, citing The Hindu, said two infants died; it identified them as five and four days old.
Status of rescued children
Three-Infant Death Report
The three-infant report focused on the deaths and said the neonatal ward suffered extensive damage.
Two-Infant Death Report
A note from the health minister’s office said the other children in the ward were stable and had developed no complications.
Key facts
- Reported deaths
- Two infants were reported dead by one source; another reported three.
- Hospital
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences.
- Location
- Adilabad district, Telangana.
- Rescue
- About 28 infants were rescued and shifted to nearby private hospitals.
- Injuries
- Two nurses and several hospital staff suffered injuries, including burn injuries.
- Alleged cause
- An air-conditioning unit in the reception area allegedly exploded around 11:30 p.m.
- Government response
- Chief Minister Revanth Reddy ordered an inquiry into the fire.
Quotes
Dr Sadhana
District Medical and Health Officer quoted describing the evacuation effort
“patient attendants broke the glass windows to allow the smoke to escape and helped evacuate the babies from the affected areas”
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C Damodar Raja Narasimha’s office
Office of Telangana’s Health Minister
“The condition of the other children who were in the ward at the time of the incident was stable and none have developed any complications”
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Sources
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