KTR accuses Telangana government of negligence over RIMS fire deaths

BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Telangana government of negligence after five infants died in a fire at Adilabad’s RIMS newborn care unit. He questioned an inquiry report reportedly blaming rats chewing AC wires and demanded accountability.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of criminal negligence over the deaths of five infants in a fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of RIMS in Adilabad. He questioned an inquiry report that reportedly blamed rats chewing through air-conditioner wires for the blaze.

Reacting to media reports on the committee’s findings, Rama Rao questioned how rats could roam inside a newborn care ward. He alleged that the government was using the explanation to deflect responsibility for the tragedy. He demanded to know whom the report was trying to protect and accused the Revanth Reddy government of failing to ensure basic maintenance and supervision in government hospitals.

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“Revanth Reddy is more concerned about his own private hospitals than government hospitals,” he said, blaming the government’s negligence for the deaths. He said the families of the infants would hold the Congress government accountable for the tragedy.

District Collector Rajarshi Shah reportedly submitted a 50-page report prepared by a six-member inquiry committee to the government. The report identified rats chewing through AC wires as the cause of the short circuit that triggered the fire around midnight on September 21, killing five infants. It is also understood to have flagged staff negligence and deficiencies in the ward and recommended measures to prevent similar incidents. The detailed findings of the report have not been made public.