Early Wednesday morning, a tragic fire broke out in the newborn nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, the nation’s capital. The blaze, which started around 6:45 a.m. after an air‑conditioning unit compressor exploded on the third‑floor gynecology ward, claimed the lives of 14 newborns. One baby was pulled to safety by a doctor, according to hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil.
Immediate response and investigation
Firefighters arrived quickly, extinguishing the flames and securing the area. Rescue workers used ladders to reach the nursery through broken windows, while police were deployed to maintain order as grieving families gathered outside the hospital. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the death toll and announced that the government had launched a multi‑agency fact‑finding committee. The panel is tasked with determining the cause of the fire, assessing fire‑safety measures, and evaluating the emergency response, with a report due within 24 hours.
Government action
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the infants and ordered an immediate investigation. Within hours, he removed Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the ministry’s top civil servant, from his post, signaling a zero‑tolerance stance toward any negligence. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the chief commissioner of Islamabad, Suhail Ashraf, also voiced condolences and pledged full cooperation with the investigative team.
Impact on families
Families of the deceased infants were notified, and officials said the bodies would be handed over after completing necessary paperwork. One mother, identified as Mrs. Mohammad Sami, who had given birth three days earlier, described the anguish of losing her child and waiting for the return of the infant’s remains. The hospital promised to support the grieving parents and provide any needed assistance.
Broader context
This tragedy follows other recent incidents involving children in Pakistan, including a June collapse of a tutoring‑center roof in Lahore that killed 14 schoolchildren. The repeated loss of young lives has heightened public demand for stricter safety standards in schools, hospitals, and other facilities that care for children.
Looking ahead
President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences, calling the deaths “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.” He urged authorities to identify those responsible and enforce the law, while emphasizing the need for hospitals to maintain effective fire‑safety protocols, especially in wards caring for newborns. Health Minister Kamal traveled from Karachi to Islamabad to personally oversee the investigation, underscoring the administration’s commitment to accountability.
The incident has sparked nationwide calls for improved emergency preparedness, better equipment, and stricter oversight of medical facilities. As the fact‑finding committee works to uncover the exact failures that led to the fire, families and the broader public await answers and reforms that will protect the most vulnerable citizens.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
