RIMS-Adilabad fire mishap toll rises to three as another infant dies

The death toll in the fire incident at the Special Newborn Care Unit of RIMS-Adilabad has risen to three after another infant died while undergoing treatment in Nizamabad. Several newborns were affected after inhaling toxic fumes allegedly caused by air-conditioner explosions following an electrical short circuit.

Adilabad: Death toll in the fire mishap at Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) in Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)-Adilabad has risen to three with another 20-day-old baby succumbing while undergoing treatment at Government General Hospital in Nizamabad on Tuesday.

Officials said that the baby breathed her last at the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Nizamabad at 9 am. She was admitted to the hospital after her condition deteriorated. She was among the five infants who fell critically ill after inhaling toxic fumes released when the air-conditioners (ACs) exploded due to an electrical short-circuit.

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One newborn was killed on the spot, while four other infants were hospitalised after inhaling toxic gases in the mishap that occurred late on Monday night. A five-day-old baby of Saleem Ahmed from Hyderabad lost consciousness and died instantly. Another infant succumbed while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Adilabad early on Tuesday morning.

The identities of the victims have not yet been established. The three infants undergoing treatment at different private hospitals in Adilabad, remain in serious condition. Around 30 infants were being treated in incubators at the SNCU when the incident took place. The medical condition of the remaining infants was learned to be stable.

Thick smoke and toxic gases spread throughout the SNCU soon after the explosion of the ACs, leading to fatalities and injuries. RIMS authorities said that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident to ascertain the causes of the mishap. They stated that action would be taken against officials if negligence was found.