A blaze broke out in a nursery for newborns at a major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital early Wednesday, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 infants, as confirmed by hospital authorities and government sources. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was home to approximately 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire started around 6:45 a.m. local time following an explosion of an air-conditioning unit compressor on the third floor of the facility, as reported by hospital and rescue personnel.
The fire was contained within the nursery located in the gynecology ward, while the rest of the hospital remained unharmed, and no additional injuries were reported, according to hospital officials and witnesses. Footage from television broadcasts showed rescue workers using ladders to access the area through shattered windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the tragic loss of at least 14 infants. Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, mentioned that one baby was saved by a doctor. The bodies of six babies were handed over to their families, with the remaining bodies set to be released shortly.
The heartbreaking incident led to a wave of sorrow and shock across the country. Police were dispatched to the hospital as grieving parents and relatives assembled, with some in tears while others demanded accountability and answers regarding the cause of the fire and the adequacy of firefighting equipment in the nursery.
Firefighters swiftly responded to extinguish the blaze, and rescue teams initiated cooling operations at the scene, as per local media reports. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later announced that the fire had been put out, and authorities were collaborating with the affected families.
Following the tragedy, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee tasked with submitting a report within 24 hours. The committee’s mandate includes investigating the fire’s origin and spread, assessing the presence of adequate fire-safety measures, and evaluating the emergency response, according to a government notification.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the incident. Sharif emphasized the irreparable loss caused by a tragedy involving children and called for an immediate investigation. President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the affected families, labeling the deaths as heartbreaking and irreplaceable. Zardari urged the identification and lawful handling of those responsible and emphasized the importance for hospitals to implement effective fire-safety protocols and emergency procedures, especially in wards catering to newborns.
PIMS, one of Islamabad’s prominent public hospitals, was previously in the spotlight for conducting a medical examination of detained former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
