A fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of PIMS’ Mother and Child Health ward, killing 14 newborns and leaving one baby rescued.
ISLAMABAD: Fourteen newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out in the nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, officials said.
The fire erupted at around 6:54 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward. Rescue teams reached the hospital within minutes and brought the blaze under control.
According to the Islamabad administration, six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances participated in the rescue operation. The affected children were shifted to the intensive care unit after the fire was extinguished.
PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said 15 newborns were in the ward when the fire broke out and that at least one baby was rescued by a doctor.
Rescue sources initially said the fire may have started after an air-conditioning compressor exploded inside the nursery. However, PIMS officials also said the blaze appeared to have been caused by a short circuit, making the exact cause subject to investigation.
The incident prompted authorities to launch an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire. The Islamabad administration said an inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner general had been formed to investigate the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation, directing authorities to determine the factors behind the incident and identify those responsible. President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences and called for effective fire-safety measures and emergency protocols in hospitals.
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