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PIMS Hospital Fire Claims 14 Newborn Lives
PIMS Hospital Fire in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies after a blaze erupted in the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences early Wednesday, August 26. The tragedy has triggered an immediate government investigation and renewed questions about fire-safety arrangements in healthcare facilities.
According to hospital and government officials, the fire broke out on the third floor of the MCH ward, where the nursery was located. Reports indicate that around 15 newborns were inside the nursery when the blaze began, with one infant rescued alive by a doctor.
Rescue Operation Underwa
Emergency responders deployed multiple fire engines and ambulances to control the blaze and evacuate people from the affected area. Rescue personnel used ladders and broken windows to reach the nursery as smoke and intense heat made access difficult.
Officials initially said the exact cause remained under investigation. However, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the preliminary account pointed to an explosion involving an air-conditioning unit. Reuters also reported that the fire originated following an air-conditioner blast, while the investigation is expected to establish the precise sequence of events.
The presence of oxygen equipment in the nursery has also drawn attention because of the potential for flames to spread rapidly in such an environment.
Inquiry Committee Formed
The Islamabad district administration has established a multi-agency fact-finding committee to investigate the disaster.
The panel, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), includes representatives from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Police, IESCO, PIMS and Capital Emergency Services. It has been instructed to examine the cause of the fire, the availability and functionality of fire-safety equipment, and the effectiveness of the emergency response.
The committee has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours, placing the authorities under immediate pressure to determine whether negligence or safety failures contributed to the deaths.
Families Demand Accountability
The deaths have left families devastated, with relatives gathering outside the hospital demanding answers.
Some witnesses and family members alleged that access points and doors were locked or difficult to use during the emergency and questioned whether adequate fire exits and evacuation procedures were available. These claims remain allegations and are among the issues that investigators are expected to examine.
Families have called for accountability and independent scrutiny of the hospital’s safety arrangements.
Officials Promise Action
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and called for the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to be thoroughly examined. The federal government has also moved to hold senior officials accountable as the investigation proceeds.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said he would oversee the investigation and determine whether shortcomings in staffing, safety procedures or emergency preparedness played a role.
The incident has also prompted wider concern about fire protection standards in hospitals, particularly in areas housing newborns and other highly vulnerable patients.
National Leadership Expresses Grief
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.
President Zardari called the loss of the newborns heartbreaking and irreparable, while urging authorities to identify those responsible and take action according to law. He also stressed the importance of effective fire-safety and emergency protocols in hospitals.
The tragedy has become one of the country’s most serious recent hospital fire incidents and has placed renewed focus on emergency preparedness, fire prevention and patient safety in public healthcare facilities.See More on Pulse Pakistan
