A tragic incident occurred early Wednesday at a government hospital in Pakistan’s capital when a fire broke out in a nursery for newborns, resulting in the death of 14 babies. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was home to around 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire started at approximately 6:45 a.m. local time due to an air-conditioning unit compressor explosion on the third floor. The fire was contained within the nursery located in the gynecology ward, and the rest of the hospital was unaffected with no additional injuries reported.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the loss of 14 children in the fire. Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, mentioned that one baby was rescued by a doctor, and six bodies had been returned to their families, with the rest to be released soon. The incident sparked shock and grief nationwide, prompting police deployment at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives demanded accountability and answers regarding the fire’s cause and the nursery’s firefighting preparedness.
Following the fire outbreak, firefighters swiftly responded to extinguish the flames, while rescue teams initiated cooling operations at the scene. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf confirmed the fire was put out, and authorities were working closely with the affected families. In response to the tragedy, the Islamabad district magistrate established a multiagency fact-finding committee tasked with investigating the fire’s origin, assessing fire safety measures, and reviewing emergency response procedures within 24 hours.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness over the incident, emphasizing the profound loss of young lives. President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the families, urging the identification and legal action against those responsible for the tragedy. Zardari also stressed the importance of stringent fire safety protocols in hospitals, particularly in units caring for infants. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a prominent public hospital in Islamabad, was previously in the spotlight for conducting a medical examination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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