ISLAMABAD: At least 14 newborn babies were killed when a fire broke out in the nursery of the Mother and Child Health ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday morning. Officials said 15 newborns were present in the ward at the time, while one baby was rescued.
The fire reportedly started at around 6:45am on the third floor of the hospital. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said an air-conditioning unit allegedly exploded, while the presence of oxygen in the ward caused the flames to spread rapidly. The exact cause and circumstances of the fire are being investigated.
Rescue teams and firefighters reached the hospital and brought the blaze under control. Officials said the fire was confined to the nursery, while rescue workers used ladders and other means to reach the affected area.
The tragedy triggered grief and anger among the victims’ families and members of the public. Some politicians and journalists have demanded accountability and questioned whether adequate fire-safety arrangements were available at the hospital.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. The federal health secretary was removed from his post, while inquiry committees were formed to determine the cause of the fire, examine safety arrangements and establish whether any negligence contributed to the deaths.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that those found responsible should face accountability and has also offered himself for accountability over the tragedy.
