Fire breaks out at private children’s hospital in Vijayawada; all patients safe

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A police officer inspects the emergency ward of Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Vijayawada, gutted in a fire on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A fire broke out at Rainbow Children’s Hospital at Currency Nagar in Vijayawada on Wednesday (June 17, 2026). No casualties were reported, and the patients were shifted to a nearby hospital, Fire Department officials said.

Smoke billowed from the emergency ward and then spread to the first floor. Panicky attendants of the patients and the hospital staff shifted the babies to safer places.

చిన్నారుల వార్డులో అగ్నిప్రమాదం కలకలం..విజయవాడ రెయిన్‌బో హాస్పిటల్‌లో భారీ అగ్ని ప్రమాదం చోటుచేసుకోగా, పేషెంట్లు, వారి కుటుంబ సభ్యులు తీవ్ర భయాందోళనకు గురయ్యారు.#Vijayawada#RainbowHospital#FireAccident#UANowpic.twitter.com/uS8UroOVnt

Additional Director, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force and Fire Services, G. Srinivasulu, said the fire-detection system and sprinklers alerted the hospital staff. Fire tenders from Vijayawada and Auto Nagar rushed to the spot and put out the flames, said Mr. Srinivasulu, who monitored the operation.

A fire gutted the emergency ward of Rainbow Children's Hospital in Vijayawada on Wednesday morning. All the babies and children were evacuated and no casualties were reported. Fire officials suspect a short circuit. Photo: Special Arrangement pic.twitter.com/TCWu68v2sf

“The Fire Control personnel received the call at 8.12 a.m. and we reached the spot in three minutes. The babies, undergoing treatment in the wards, were evacuated immediately,” NTR District Fire Officer (DFO) A.V. Shankar Rao said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) K. Damodar, who rushed to the spot, said the fire broke out in the emergency ward and smoke spread to the first floor. All the children and their attendants were safe, the ACP said.

“We suspect the fire was caused by a short circuit, which led to an air-conditioner burning in the casualty ward. A thorough investigation is on,” the Fire Services Additional D