ISLAMABAD — A fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad killed 14 newborns on Wednesday, according to Pakistan's government and hospital officials, though some early local media reports had put the toll as high as 15.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed 14 deaths in a statement, and PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneza Jalil told Arab News that "14 babies passed away. One was rescued." Hospital officials said the nursery housed 15 newborns at the time of the fire.
Emergency Response
The blaze broke out around 6:45 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital's Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward, also referred to as the gynaecology ward, in the nursery housing newborns. Firefighters responded quickly and extinguished the fire, after which rescue teams carried out cooling operations at the site, local media reported. The Islamabad district administration said six fire engines and four ambulances took part in the emergency response, and surviving infants were moved to intensive care.
Preliminary Cause and Investigation
Rescue officials and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire appeared to have started after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, with Kamal saying the presence of oxygen in the ward caused the fire to intensify. Authorities have described this as a preliminary account rather than a formally established cause.
The Islamabad district administration has set up a fact-finding committee, led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) for Islamabad Capital Territory and including representatives from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad police, electricity utility IESCO, PIMS and Capital Emergency Services, to determine the exact cause of the fire, assess whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the emergency response. The committee has been asked to submit its findings within 24 hours.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and expressed grief over the deaths. "A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," he said in a statement from his office.
As of Wednesday, authorities had not released further findings beyond the preliminary account of the fire's cause, and the investigation remained ongoing.
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Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
How many newborns died in the PIMS hospital fire?
14 newborns were killed in the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with one infant successfully rescued from the nursery.
What is the suspected cause of the fire in Islamabad?
According to preliminary accounts from rescue officials and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the fire appeared to have started when an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded, and intensified due to the presence of oxygen in the ward.
What action has the Pakistani government taken?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation, and the Islamabad district administration established a fact-finding committee required to submit a report on the fire's exact cause and safety measures within 24 hours.
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