A fire broke out in the nursery for newborns at a major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital early Wednesday morning, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 babies, as reported by hospital officials and the government. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad had 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire started around 6:45 a.m. local time due to an air-conditioning unit compressor explosion on the third floor, according to hospital and rescue authorities.
The fire was contained to the nursery in the gynecology ward, while the rest of the hospital was unaffected, and no other injuries were reported. Rescue workers were seen using ladders to access the area through broken windows in television footage.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the death toll of 14 children. Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, mentioned that one baby was rescued by a doctor. Six babies’ bodies had been returned to their families, with the remaining bodies to be released soon.
The tragic incident caused shock and sorrow nationwide, prompting police deployment at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, seeking accountability and answers regarding the fire’s cause and the nursery’s firefighting equipment. Mohammad Sami, who recently gave birth and had her baby in the nursery for intensive care, expressed profound grief over losing her child.
Firefighters swiftly responded to extinguish the blaze, and rescue teams initiated cooling operations at the site, as reported by local media. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf confirmed the fire was put out, and authorities were working with the affected families.
Following the incident, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee tasked with investigating the fire’s cause, its spread, the presence of adequate fire-safety measures, and the emergency response. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and emphasized the need for an immediate investigation.
President Asif Ali Zardari also extended sympathies to the families, describing the deaths as heartbreaking and calling for the identification and legal action against those responsible. Zardari urged hospitals to prioritize effective fire-safety measures and emergency protocols, especially in units caring for newborns.
PIMS, a prominent public hospital in Islamabad, was previously in the spotlight for conducting a medical examination of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.