On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out in a nursery for newborns at a prominent government hospital in Pakistan’s capital, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 infants, as reported by hospital officials and government sources.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was caring for at least 15 newborns in the nursery when the blaze started around 6:45 a.m. local time due to an explosion from an air-conditioning unit’s compressor located on the third floor, according to statements from hospital and rescue personnel.
The fire was limited to the nursery within the gynecology ward, leaving the remainder of the hospital untouched, and no other injuries were reported, as confirmed by hospital officials and witnesses. Footage from television showed rescue workers accessing the area using ladders through shattered windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal verified that at least 14 infants had perished.
“A doctor managed to rescue one baby,” stated Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a spokesperson for the hospital. She mentioned that the remains of six infants had been returned to their families, while the rest would be released shortly.
Javeria, the mother of a newborn victim, is consoled following the deadly fire. At least one baby was rescued, officials said. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)
The loss of these children has elicited profound shock and sorrow nationwide. Police were stationed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, some in tears while others demanded accountability and sought clarity on how the fire ignited and whether proper firefighting equipment was available in the nursery.
Mohammad Sami shared that she had given birth just three days prior, and her infant was in intensive care in the nursery when the fire broke out.
“I don’t know what to say or whom to blame,” she expressed tearfully. “I have lost my child.”
‘Irreparable loss’
According to local media, firefighters swiftly arrived and extinguished the fire, while rescue teams began cooling operations at the scene. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later announced that the fire had been put out and that authorities were coordinating with the families.
Within a few hours, the Islamabad district magistrate established a multiagency fact-finding committee with instructions to submit a report within 24 hours. This panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread, assess whether sufficient fire-safety measures were implemented, and review the emergency response, as indicated by a government notification.
A multiagency fact-finding committee has been directed to submit a report within 24 hours. The panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their condolences regarding the incident.
“A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” stated Sharif, who has called for an immediate investigation. President Asif Ali Zardari also extended his sympathies to the bereaved families, labeling the deaths as “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”
Zardari urged for those accountable to be identified and held legally responsible, while also calling on hospitals to implement effective fire-safety protocols and emergency procedures, especially in wards caring for newborns.
PIMS is one of the largest public hospitals in Islamabad and was recently the venue for a medical examination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned.