Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Telangana Hospital Fire Kills Two or Three Infants
A fire started in a hospital room where newborn babies were being treated.
The fire happened late Monday night in Adilabad, Telangana.
Reports disagreed about whether two or three babies died.
One report said a baby died at the scene, another died during treatment, and a third died the next morning from smoke inhalation.
Other officials said only two babies died.
The fire may have begun because an air conditioner broke, exploded or short-circuited.
Parents and hospital workers broke windows and carried babies out through the smoke.
Two nurses and other staff members were hurt while helping.
The remaining babies were taken to nearby private hospitals, and the government ordered an investigation.
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 officials in some accounts saying two infants died and other reports saying three.
The fire was linked to a suspected air-conditioner malfunction, explosion or short circuit, but an inquiry will determine the exact cause.
Parents, nurses and hospital staff rescued infants through broken glass windows as thick smoke filled the unit.
Two nurses and several staff members were injured, while surviving infants were moved to private hospitals and monitored.
- Who
- Infants in the hospital’s newborn care unit, along with parents, nurses, hospital staff, firefighters and Telangana officials, were involved.
- What
- A fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit; reports said two or three infants died, and several staff members were injured.
- When
- The fire began around 11:30 p.m. late Monday, during the night between Monday and Tuesday.
- Where
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad, Telangana.
- Why
- Officials suspected an air-conditioner malfunction, explosion or short circuit, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
Three-Infant Death Report
Two-Infant Official Report
Death toll
Three-Infant Death Report
One account said three infants died: one at the scene, one during treatment late Monday, and one Tuesday morning from smoke inhalation.
Two-Infant Official Report
Other officials reported two deaths: one infant died at the hospital and another died after being shifted to a private hospital.
Number of infants affected
Three-Infant Death Report
The three-death account described around 28 infants being rescued from the unit.
Two-Infant Official Report
Another official account said 27 infants were in the unit, with 25 moved to private hospitals and two in critical condition.
Condition of survivors
Three-Infant Death Report
The three-death report emphasized smoke inhalation, extensive ward damage and injuries during the rescue.
Two-Infant Official Report
A separate health minister’s office note said the other rescued children were stable and had developed no complications, while another report said two infants were in critical condition.
- Reported death toll
- Accounts differed: some officials reported two infant deaths, while other reports said three.
- Hospital
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Adilabad.
- Infants in unit
- Reports said either 27 or around 28 infants were receiving treatment.
- Suspected cause
- A malfunctioning, exploding or short-circuited air-conditioning unit; the cause was not confirmed.
- Rescue operation
- Parents and hospital staff broke glass windows to release smoke and evacuate the infants.
- Injuries
- Two nurses and several hospital staff members suffered injuries, including burn injuries.
- Government response
- Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered an inquiry, while Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha said an expert committee would examine the fire and safety lapses.
