Islamabad [Pakistan], August 26 (ANI): Fourteen infants were killed early Wednesday after a fire engulfed the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, local media outlet Dawn reported.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital unit at the federal capital’s major public health facility, prompting an emergency response as authorities evacuated patients and attempted to rescue newborns trapped inside the ward.
Television footage showed emergency responders using ladders and entering the smoke-filled building through shattered windows. Six fire engines and four ambulances were deployed to tackle the blaze.
Authorities said the fire was brought under control and the children were shifted to the intensive care unit. They later confirmed that 14 infants had been completely burned in the fire. An inquiry panel led by the additional deputy commissioner general has been formed to investigate the incident.
PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil told Dawn that 15 babies were in the ward when the fire broke out. She said at least one baby was rescued by a doctor.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told Geo News that the newborns were trapped in incubators or dependent on oxygen supplies when the fire began at around 6:45 a.m. He said the blaze was triggered by what was described as a blast in an air conditioner inside the ward.
According to the minister, the explosion caused the fire to spread rapidly, with oxygen cylinders present in the room contributing to the severity of the blaze and resulting in the deaths of 14 infants.
A relative of one of the victims, Malik Israr, told Dawn that the neonatal unit was housed in a dilapidated section of the hospital where renovation and repair work was underway.
The evacuation was chaotic, according to an eyewitness. Women who had recently given birth were reportedly forced to leave the building using the stairs as the fire spread.
Established in 1985, PIMS is the largest public medical center in Islamabad. The tragedy has renewed concerns over fire safety, emergency preparedness and the condition of public infrastructure in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire and determine responsibility, saying that an incident involving children was “unbearable.”
President Asif Ali Zardari described the deaths as “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss” and called for those responsible to be identified and dealt with according to the law. He also stressed the need for effective safety and emergency measures across hospitals.
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said negligence in safety measures was unacceptable and called for practical steps to prevent similar incidents. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed grief over the deaths.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) called the incident a serious failure of hospital administration and regulatory oversight. The medical body demanded strict criminal and administrative action against negligent officials, along with structural reforms and greater accountability among health regulatory authorities. (ANI)
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