A fire broke out early on Wednesday in a nursery for newborns at a prominent government hospital in Pakistan’s capital, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 babies, 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 after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded on the third floor of the nursery, according to hospital officials and rescue teams.
The blaze was contained within the nursery located in the gynecology ward, with no impact on the rest of the hospital and no additional injuries reported, as stated by hospital staff and witnesses. Footage from television broadcasts showed rescue workers using ladders to access the area through broken windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal verified the tragic loss of at least 14 infants. Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, mentioned that one baby was rescued by a doctor, and the bodies of six babies have been returned to their families, with the remaining bodies to be released shortly.
The incident sparked shock and grief nationwide, leading to the deployment of police at the hospital as devastated parents and relatives gathered, some in tears, demanding answers and accountability regarding the cause of the fire and the adequacy of firefighting equipment in the nursery.
Mohammad Sami, who had given birth three days prior, shared her heartbreaking experience of her baby receiving intensive care in the nursery when the fire erupted, expressing profound sorrow at the loss of her child.
Firefighters promptly responded to extinguish the blaze, and rescue teams initiated cooling operations at the scene, as reported by local media. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later confirmed the fire had been put out, with authorities working closely with the affected families.
In response to 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 cause 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 their condolences over the devastating incident, with Sharif ordering an immediate investigation into the matter. President Asif Ali Zardari also extended sympathies to the affected families, labeling the deaths as heart-wrenching and emphasizing the need to identify and hold accountable those responsible under the law.
Zardari stressed the importance of hospitals implementing effective fire-safety measures and emergency protocols, especially in units caring for newborns. PIMS, a prominent public hospital in Islamabad, was recently in the spotlight for conducting a medical evaluation of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.