A fire killed 14 newborns in a nursery at a major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital on Wednesday morning, according to officials from the hospital and the government, which has initiated an investigation.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad housed at least 15 newborns in the affected nursery. At least one baby was rescued from the blaze, which started around 6:45 a.m. after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded inside the third-floor nursery, hospital and rescue officials stated.
Hospital officials and witnesses reported that the fire was contained to the nursery within the gynecology ward; the remainder of the hospital was unaffected, and no other injuries were reported. Television footage showed rescue workers using ladders to access the area through broken windows.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the death toll of at least 14 children.
Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, stated that "One baby was rescued by a doctor." She added that the bodies of six babies had been given to their families, while the remaining bodies would be released soon.
The deaths caused widespread shock and grief across the country. Police were deployed at the hospital as grieving relatives and parents gathered; some wept while others demanded accountability regarding how the fire started and whether the nursery possessed adequate firefighting equipment.
Mrs. Mohammad Sami, a woman who identified herself, said she had given birth three days prior and her baby was receiving intensive care in the nursery when the fire broke out. She reported that hospital officials informed families that bodies would be released after necessary paperwork was completed.
"I don’t know what to say or whom to blame," she stated through tears. "I have lost my child."
Malik Israr, whose niece was a patient in the gynecology ward, told Dawn newspaper that it was concerning that the nursery was located in a building undergoing repairs and renovation. He mentioned that when the fire occurred, patients were instructed to evacuate the building, forcing recently delivered mothers to rush down the stairs.
Local media reported that firefighters responded quickly, extinguishing the blaze, and rescue teams began cooling operations at the site. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later confirmed the fire was extinguished and stated authorities were coordinating with the families.
Within hours, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee tasked with submitting a report within 24 hours. A government notification indicated this panel would investigate the fire's cause and spread, determine if proper fire-safety measures were in place, and evaluate the emergency response.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident.
Sharif stated that "A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," and he ordered an immediate investigation.
Hours later, Sharif held a high-level meeting and ordered Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri's removal from office, while also expressing anger toward other officials from relevant agencies present, according to a government statement. The statement added that the meeting, held despite a national holiday observing the eve of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, resulted in forming a committee to investigate the fire.
President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences to the families, describing the deaths as "heartbreaking and an irreparable loss."
Zardari called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted under the law and urged hospitals to ensure effective emergency procedures and fire-safety measures, especially in newborn care wards.
Kamal, the health minister, informed the local Geo News channel that he was traveling from Karachi to Islamabad to personally oversee the investigation. He noted that the director-general of health and the federal health secretary were already at PIMS, one of Islamabad’s largest public hospitals, which had recently hosted a medical examination for imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Kamal confirmed officials were in contact with the families, emphasizing that supporting the parents and returning the infants' bodies to them was the immediate priority.