How did the PIMS NICU tragedy unfold?
An initial investigation by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has shed new light on the fire that killed 15 newborn babies at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
According to the preliminary report prepared by the PIMS administration, a nebulizer attached to an incubator, used to deliver or monitor oxygen for a newborn, reportedly burst inside the NICU. The incident caused the oxygen to catch fire, triggering a blaze in the unit.
The report says the fire initially remained limited but spread rapidly. Thick smoke entered the babies’ breathing system through the oxygen pipeline, while the fire and heat also affected the infants. The preliminary findings indicate that the newborns died from a combination of oxygen supply failure, smoke inhalation and burn injuries.
Earlier, rescue officials and hospital authorities had attributed the fire to an air-conditioner compressor explosion in the gynecology ward. They also said the presence of oxygen cylinders contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. One newborn reportedly survived the incident.
The tragedy has raised serious questions about safety arrangements and emergency response at the hospital. The bodies of the deceased newborns have been handed over to their families.
Parents and eyewitnesses alleged that hospital staff were not present in the nursery when the fire broke out and claimed that the doors remained closed, making it difficult to evacuate the babies. They also questioned the response time of rescue teams.
PIMS Executive Director, however, rejected claims that staff had abandoned the NICU. He said two doctors, four nurses and other staff members were present in the intensive care unit at the time of the incident. He also maintained that the hospital had an adequate fire safety system.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) said its rescue teams reached the hospital soon after receiving the emergency call. According to the authority, firefighters brought the blaze under control and immediately shifted the affected newborns to the intensive care unit for treatment.
The district administration has formed an eight-member inquiry committee to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess whether safety protocols were properly followed. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours.
The conflicting accounts about the source of the fire have increased pressure for a detailed and impartial investigation. The final inquiry is expected to establish how the fire started, why it spread so quickly, whether the oxygen system played a role and whether the hospital staff and emergency services responded according to established safety procedures.
