15 newborns killed in fire at PIMS nursery in Isla…
ISLAMABAD: At least 15 newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out at the nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday morning.
According to rescue officials, the fire erupted at around 6:45am on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward. The blaze reportedly started after an air-conditioning unit exploded and spread rapidly through the nursery.
PIMS authorities said 16 babies were present in the nursery when the fire broke out. Fifteen newborns died in the incident, while one baby was successfully rescued.
Rescue officials said the fire was brought under control and cooling operations were initiated afterward. Six fire engines and four ambulances took part in the rescue operation after emergency teams reached the hospital soon after receiving the alert.
According to the district administration, 14 babies suffered severe burns in the incident. An investigation committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner has been formed to determine the exact cause of the fire and establish how the tragedy occurred.
The MCH ward was later sealed as authorities began examining the scene.
Parents of the deceased babies alleged that hospital staff were not present inside the incubation centre when the fire broke out. The allegations are expected to form part of the investigation into the incident.
Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal confirmed that at least 14 deaths had been reported, while other officials put the death toll at 15. He said the Director General Health and hospital secretary were present at the facility and were coordinating with the families of the victims.
Speaking about the incident, Kamal said the fire started at around 6:45am following an explosion in an air-conditioning unit. He said the blaze spread extremely quickly and the hospital’s electricity supply was also disrupted immediately after the explosion.
The minister said doctors and staff were present in the intensive care area at the time. According to him, some staff members went to call the rescue service, but the fire spread rapidly before the situation could be brought under control.
He added that the hospital’s firefighting equipment was functioning and that PIMS was already operating beyond its normal capacity.
