A fire broke out early on Wednesday in a nursery for infants located within a prominent government hospital in Pakistan’s capital, resulting in the deaths of 14 infants, as reported by hospital authorities and government officials.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad had at least 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire ignited around 6:45 a.m. local time due to an explosion of an air-conditioning unit compressor situated inside the nursery on the third floor, according to hospital and rescue personnel.
The blaze was contained within the nursery of the gynecology department, with the remainder of the hospital remaining unharmed and no other injuries reported, as stated by hospital officials and eyewitnesses. Footage from television broadcasts depicted rescue teams using ladders to access the area through shattered windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that at least 14 children had perished.
“A doctor managed to rescue one baby,” remarked Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a spokesperson for the hospital. She noted that the remains of six infants had been returned to their families, while the other bodies 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 tragic loss of the children has sparked widespread shock and sorrow throughout the nation. Police were stationed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, with some weeping and others demanding accountability and seeking clarity on how the fire started and whether the nursery was equipped with proper firefighting resources.
Mohammad Sami shared that she had given birth three days prior, and her infant was receiving intensive care in the nursery when the fire broke out.
“I am at a loss for words and do not know whom to hold accountable,” she expressed through tears. “I have lost my child.”
‘Irreparable loss’
Firefighters arrived promptly and extinguished the flames, while rescue teams initiated cooling operations at the scene, as reported by local media. 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 constituted a multiagency fact-finding committee, instructing it to present a report within 24 hours. This panel will investigate the fire’s origin and spread, assess whether proper fire-safety protocols were in place, and review the emergency response, according to a government notification.
A multiagency fact-finding committee has been tasked with submitting 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 conveyed their condolences regarding the fire incident.
“A tragedy involving children constitutes an irreparable loss,” stated Sharif, who called for an immediate inquiry. President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his sympathies to the families, labeling the fatalities as “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”
Zardari urged that those responsible be identified and held accountable under the law, and he stressed the necessity for hospitals to implement effective fire-safety measures and emergency protocols, especially in wards that care for newborns.
PIMS, one of the largest public hospitals in Islamabad, had recently been the site of a medical examination for imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.