Islamabad: At least 14 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out at a mother and child unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
The fire erupted on the third floor of the hospital’s mother and child unit after an air conditioning unit caught fire, according to a hospital spokesman. There were 15 newborn babies in the affected ward at the time, with one baby successfully rescued.
Pakistan’s Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the babies were either inside incubators or connected to oxygen equipment when the fire started. The presence of oxygen can intensify a fire by causing materials to burn more rapidly, although oxygen itself is not flammable.
Emergency responders rescued at least 19 other people from the hospital, including 10 women, seven children and two men. The newborn victims suffered severe burns, making identification difficult. Police said DNA testing will be required before the bodies can be handed back to their families.
The tragedy has left families gathered outside the hospital in shock and grief. PIMS is one of the largest state-run hospitals in Islamabad, with 156 beds in its maternal and child health unit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. Islamabad’s District Magistrate has also formed a fact-finding committee, which has been instructed to submit its report within 24 hours.
The fire has renewed concerns about safety standards and emergency preparedness in Pakistani buildings. The country has experienced several major fires in recent years, with safety regulations and enforcement frequently coming under scrutiny.
Earlier this year, a fire at the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi killed 67 people, highlighting continuing concerns over fire safety and building compliance in the country.
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