Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha held a meeting with senior officials in Hyderabad on Thursday, to review the implementation of fire safety standards across healthcare facilities.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Telangana government has released ₹11.1 crore for urgent repairs and renovation work at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, days after a fire at the hospital claimed the lives of five infants.
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha has directed officials to take up the repair and infrastructure restoration works immediately and complete them on priority. The funds were released after the district administration, in coordination with various departments, conducted a field inspection and prepared estimates for the works required at the hospital.
Of the total allocation, ₹1 crore has been earmarked for renovation of the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), while another ₹1 crore has been allocated for painting the hospital building. A further ₹1.6 crore will be spent on repairing the CC pavement and damaged compound wall within the RIMS premises.
The government has allocated ₹5 crore for the maintenance and repair of toilets and bathrooms at the hospital. Another ₹1.5 crore has been sanctioned for urgent repairs to the oxygen pipeline system and ₹1 crore for electrical repairs.
The release of funds comes as the health department steps up its review of fire safety measures in government and private hospitals across Telangana following the RIMS incident. The Minister directed that fire safety, electrical safety and structural safety audits be completed across all government hospitals within one month. He ordered that fire and electrical safety audits be conducted once every six months and structural safety audits once a year.
He further added that the government will soon issue a GO containing comprehensive fire safety guidelines and a standard checklist for hospitals. The checklist is expected to cover fire alarms, extinguishers, hydrants, sprinkler systems, fire water lines, emergency exits and lighting, electrical panels and wiring, DG sets, air-conditioning units and oxygen supply systems. Audits will also verify whether installed safety equipment is functional.
Published – September 24, 2026 07:08 pm IST
