On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out in a nursery for infants at a prominent government hospital in the capital of Pakistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 newborns, as reported by hospital officials and government sources.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad had approximately 15 infants in the nursery when the blaze ignited around 6:45 a.m. local time, following an explosion of an air-conditioning unit compressor located inside the nursery on the third floor, according to officials from the hospital and rescue teams.
The fire was limited to the nursery in the gynecology ward, with the remainder of the hospital unaffected and no additional injuries reported, as stated by hospital representatives and witnesses. Footage from television showed rescuers using ladders to access the area through shattered windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that at least 14 infants had perished.
“A doctor managed to save one baby,” reported Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a spokesperson for the hospital. She added that the remains of six infants had been returned to their families, with the others expected to be released shortly.
Javeria, the mother of a newborn victim, is comforted after the tragic incident. Officials confirmed that at least one baby was rescued. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)
The loss of the infants has sparked widespread shock and sorrow throughout the nation. Police were stationed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, with some in tears and others demanding accountability and seeking clarification on how the fire started and whether proper fire safety measures were in place in the nursery.
Mohammad Sami, a mother who gave birth three days prior, stated that her baby was in intensive care in the nursery when the fire occurred.
“I am at a loss for words and unsure who to blame,” she wept. “I’ve lost my child.”
‘Irreparable loss’
Local media reported that firefighters responded swiftly to the incident and managed to extinguish the flames, while rescue teams initiated 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 affected families.
In a matter of hours, the Islamabad district magistrate established a multiagency committee tasked with investigating the incident, directing them to provide a report within 24 hours. The committee will look into the cause of the fire, its progression, the adequacy of fire safety measures, and the emergency response, according to a government announcement.
A multiagency committee has been assigned to submit a report within 24 hours, focusing on the fire’s cause and spread. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their condolences regarding the fire.
“A tragedy involving children is an irreplaceable loss,” stated Sharif, who has called for an immediate investigation. President Asif Ali Zardari also extended his sympathies to the bereaved families, calling the incident “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”
Zardari urged that those responsible should be identified and held accountable under the law, emphasizing the need for hospitals to implement effective fire safety and emergency protocols, particularly in areas caring for newborns.
PIMS is one of the largest public hospitals in Islamabad, which recently conducted a medical examination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned.