Hyderabad: A six-member inquiry committee has reportedly submitted a 50-page report on the deaths of five infants at Adilabad RIMS hospital. The report reportedly attributed the September 21 incident to rats damaging air-conditioner wires in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU).
The incident occurred around midnight while 27 infants were receiving treatment in the SNCU ward. A short circuit and heavy smoke reportedly led to the deaths of five newborns, raising serious questions about hospital safety and maintenance.
According to reports, three infants died within hours of the incident, while two others died during treatment. The tragedy triggered criticism over alleged negligence and the hospital authorities’ responsibility for protecting newborns.
The report has reportedly reached the state government, but its findings have not been made public. Questions have emerged over how investigators established that rats damaged the wiring and whether the hospital had adequately maintained the ward.
Adilabad RIMS infant deaths raise questions over hospital safety
Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha visited the hospital after the incident and announced an inquiry. He also said the government would take action against those found responsible.
Subsequently, the government appointed a six-member committee chaired by Utnoor ITDA Project Officer Makarandu. The panel questioned doctors, hospital staff, patients’ relatives and others at RIMS to gather details about the incident.
The committee reportedly inspected the hospital and SNCU ward before submitting its 50-page report less than 10 days ago. The report is said to detail staffing arrangements and the duties performed by personnel on the night of the accident.
Meanwhile, relatives and members of the public have raised concerns about the maintenance of four air-conditioners in the affected ward. They alleged that staff failed to maintain the equipment properly and questioned whether technical faults contributed to the incident.
Initial information also pointed to possible problems involving the air-conditioners’ gas systems and excessive electrical load. However, the supplied report does not establish these factors as confirmed causes of the accident.
The inquiry’s findings remain undisclosed, leaving questions about the precise cause of the incident and individual accountability. Critics have alleged that blaming rats could divert attention from possible administrative failures, although the available information does not independently establish a cover-up.
The victims’ families and members of the public have demanded the immediate release of the inquiry report. They have also called for accountability and action against those responsible for the deaths of the five infants.