Fifteen newborns were killed after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday morning.
According to PIMS officials, 16 newborns were being cared for in the nursery when the fire erupted. Only one baby was rescued from the ward, local media outlet Geo News reported.
Rescue officials said the fire is believed to have started after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery. The blaze broke out at around 7am on the third floor of the hospital’s MCH ward, where the gynaecology unit is located.
Emergency and rescue teams rushed to the hospital, working to contain the flames, evacuate patients and staff, and carry out cooling operations after the fire was brought under control.
The district administration said 14 of the 15 newborns who died were completely burnt in the blaze. The tragedy has raised serious questions about fire-safety measures and emergency preparedness in neonatal and maternity facilities at the hospital.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation into the incident and directed authorities to identify those responsible and take strict action. Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths, he described the loss of children as an “irreparable loss” and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
The Prime Minister also instructed officials to conduct a detailed assessment of the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements and determine the factors that contributed to the tragedy, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, an inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner general has been formed to investigate the cause of the fire and establish responsibility.
Authorities are expected to examine the hospital’s safety systems, emergency response procedures and the circumstances surrounding the air-conditioner failure as part of the investigation.
