Fan fall on newborn: TGHRC holds State liable, orders ₹50,000 compensation

The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has pulled up the health authorities in Telangana’s Adilabad district over an incident in which a ceiling fan fell on a newborn baby at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Gudihathnoor, causing head injuries. The Commission has held the State liable for the lapse and recommended that the mother of the child be paid a compensation of ₹50,000.

The suo motu case was taken up by TGHRC on the basis of media reports published in June describing how the fan collapsed onto the hospital bed in the inpatient ward. 

According to Adilabad DMHO’s report dated July 22, Payal Jadhav of Machapur, who had been admitted to the PHC with labour pain, delivered a baby girl in the early hours of June 22. Later that morning, one of the ward’s two ceiling fans began rotating unusually slowly. An attendant switched it off and back on, but within minutes, the fan detached from its hook and fell directly onto the newborn.

The baby suffered a contusion on the right side of her head and was referred to the RIMS Sick Newborn Care Unit. A CT scan revealed a non-displaced fracture of the right parietal bone and a thin subdural haematoma. She was discharged after her condition stabilised, with no neurological symptoms reported during follow-up.

The Medical Officer of the PHC informed the Commission that the fan had fallen because the bolt holding it had separated from the hook due to rust. The officer termed it an accident and claimed no negligence. A subsequent inspection by the Executive Engineer of TGMSIDC also found that the downrod of the fan had broken at the rusted joint. Repair works were taken up after the incident. Instructions were also issued to all medical officers to inspect and replace rusted or faulty fixtures, including fans, tube lights, wiring, and switchboards.

The Commission rejected the ‘accident’ claim and held that the State had failed in its basic duty to maintain safe public health facilities. “The maintenance of hospital infrastructure is the responsibility of the government, and lack of upkeep that results in injury to patients constitutes a violation of statutory and constitutional duties,” they said.