RIMS-Adilabad director transferred months after five infants died in SNCU tragedy

Adilabad: The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)-Adilabad director Dr Jaisingh Rathod has been transferred. He has been replaced by Dr Balaram Chikte. An order to this effect had been issued by the health, medical and family welfare principal secretary Dr Christina Z Chongthu on Saturday.

As per the order, Jaisingh has been transferred and posted as the medical superintendent of Nagarkurnool Government General Hospital. Dr Balaram working with the plastic surgery wing at the GGH-Sangareddy has been posted as the director of RIMS. Similarly, Dr Venkat Lakavath, a professor at the orthopedic department of government medical-Asifabad has been posted as superintendent of RIMS.

RIMS-Adilabad has been in the news for wrong reasons. On the night of September 21, five infants were killed, while 20 newborns were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gases and smoke emanated from the explosion at SNCU at RIMS. Wires snapped by rodents were attributed to the tragedy. The State government extended a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the victims.

A six-member committee headed by ITDA-Utnoor project officer Manda Makarandu submitted a 50-page report by conducting an inquiry into the tragedy. Faulty wiring, poor maintenance of electricity, systematic lapses and lack of supervision by officials were also found to be the causes of the mishap. The committee recommended that administration of the institute be streamlined by transferring director, superintendent, and other key officials.

Incidentally, Dr Jaisingh, an orthopedic professor, has completed 5 years as the director. The government considered all these factors and took up transfers as part of administration.