The True Post (Web News) — A devastating fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, killing 14 newborn babies in the hospital’s Mother and Child Health Ward. One infant was rescued by a doctor, according to hospital officials. (Reuters)
The tragedy occurred at a time when the babies were receiving critical care in the neonatal section of the hospital. The incident has triggered widespread grief and renewed concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s public hospitals.
Fire Breaks Out on Third Floor
The fire erupted at around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday in the third-floor nursery of the Mother and Child Health Ward at PIMS.
According to Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, preliminary information indicated that an air-conditioning unit exploded, triggering the fire. He said the presence of oxygen cylinders in the ward contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. (Dawn)
The infants in the ward were reportedly either inside incubators or receiving oxygen at the time of the incident.
Hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said that 15 babies were present in the ward, and at least one was rescued by a doctor. (Dawn)
14 Newborn Babies Lose Their Lives
Despite the emergency response, 14 newborn babies died in the fire.
Islamabad’s district administration said rescue teams reached the hospital after receiving the emergency call and that the blaze was brought under control. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances participated in the rescue operation. (Dawn)
Officials said the affected children were moved toward intensive-care facilities, but 14 infants could not be saved.
The incident has been described as one of the country’s most tragic hospital fires involving newborn children in recent years. (AP News)
Heartbreaking Scenes Outside the Hospital
The tragedy led to heartbreaking scenes outside PIMS as families gathered to find out what had happened to their newborn children.
Several parents questioned the hospital’s emergency arrangements and demanded answers over how the fire was handled.
One father, Khurram Mehmood, told reporters that his three-day-old daughter died in the fire. Other witnesses described heavy black smoke, panic and attempts by people to escape the affected area. (The New Indian Express)
Some witnesses also alleged that doors were locked and that people faced difficulties while trying to leave the ward. These allegations have not been established as official findings and are expected to form part of the investigation. (Dawn)
Questions Over Fire Safety Measures
The tragedy has raised serious questions about fire safety arrangements at major public hospitals.
Witnesses and family members questioned whether adequate emergency exits, firefighting equipment and evacuation procedures were in place.
Footage from the scene showed rescue workers using ladders to reach broken windows and gain access to the affected area. (Dawn)
Authorities have said that determining whether there was any negligence or failure in the hospital’s safety arrangements will be part of the investigation.
Government Orders Investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
The government has directed authorities to determine the exact cause of the fire and identify anyone whose negligence may have contributed to the tragedy.
A fact-finding process has also been initiated to examine the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements, emergency response and rescue operation. (AP News)
The government has emphasized that any person found responsible for negligence should face action according to the law.
Health Minister Explains Initial Findings
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the preliminary information pointed toward an explosion involving an air-conditioning unit.
He explained that the newborns were receiving critical medical support, including oxygen, and that the presence of oxygen cylinders contributed to the intensity of the fire. (Dawn)
However, the final cause of the fire has yet to be established through the official investigation.
Rescue Teams Defend Their Response
While some witnesses questioned the emergency response, officials defended the actions of rescue teams.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said emergency teams reached the hospital within minutes of receiving the call. He said rescuers managed to evacuate people from the affected area, including children and mothers. (Dawn)
The conflicting accounts regarding the response time and evacuation process have further increased public demands for a transparent investigation.
President Zardari and Leaders Express Grief
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the newborn babies and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed grief, saying the loss of innocent newborn lives was deeply heartbreaking. (Dawn)
Other political leaders and government officials also called for accountability and improved safety measures at healthcare facilities.
UNICEF Calls for Urgent Safety Review
The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF expressed deep sadness over the deaths and called for urgent attention to safety in healthcare facilities.
The organization stressed that every newborn should receive care in a safe and secure environment and extended condolences to the families who lost their children. (Mirage News)
The tragedy has therefore drawn attention beyond Pakistan, with international observers expressing sympathy for the affected families.
Pakistan Medical Association Demands Accountability
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) also expressed deep grief over the incident and called for a thorough investigation.
The association emphasized the importance of fire-safety systems, emergency infrastructure and proper building standards in hospitals.
PMA has called for safety arrangements at healthcare facilities to be reviewed so that similar tragedies can be prevented in the future. (Dawn)
PIMS Faces Renewed Scrutiny
PIMS is one of Islamabad’s major public healthcare institutions and provides medical services to patients from the capital as well as other parts of Pakistan.
The deaths of 14 newborn babies have now placed renewed focus on the condition of hospital infrastructure, emergency exits, firefighting systems and staff preparedness.
The incident has also raised broader questions about whether public hospitals have sufficient resources and effective emergency procedures to protect vulnerable patients during fires and other disasters.
Investigation Will Determine Responsibility
For now, the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.
Authorities will need to establish whether the fire was solely caused by an equipment failure or whether other factors, including possible shortcomings in fire safety, evacuation procedures or hospital management, contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
The investigation is also expected to examine the allegations made by witnesses and families regarding locked doors, evacuation difficulties and the availability of emergency assistance.
A Tragedy That Has Shocked Pakistan
The PIMS fire has left dozens of families devastated and sparked nationwide concern over the safety of newborns and other vulnerable patients in hospitals.
With 14 newborn lives lost and only one infant rescued from the affected ward, the tragedy has become a painful reminder of the importance of effective fire-prevention systems and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities.
The coming investigation will be crucial in determining what went wrong, whether anyone was responsible for negligence and what measures must be introduced to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated. (Reuters)
