A fire at a government hospital nursery in Islamabad, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of at least 14 newborns. The incident occurred at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) within the Mother and Child Health ward. Hospital and government officials confirmed the casualties following the blaze, which started in the early morning hours.
The nursery was located within the hospital's gynecology ward and was housing at least 15 newborns at the time the fire began. According to hospital officials, rescue teams were able to save at least one infant from the room. A witness reported seeing the ward cordoned off and multiple ambulances gathered outside the building as emergency operations took place.
Rescue officials reported that the fire started at approximately 6:45 a.m. The preliminary cause was attributed to the explosion of an air-conditioning unit compressor inside the nursery. Firefighters reached the scene quickly to extinguish the flames, after which teams began cooling operations to secure the site.
The incident highlights safety concerns regarding infrastructure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, specifically the maintenance of essential climate control equipment like air-conditioning compressors. A person utilizing public health services in Islamabad would notice heightened scrutiny of hospital safety protocols following this event. Furthermore, the loss of life at a state-run institution often leads to reviews of building codes and equipment standards for medical facilities nationwide.
What happens next involves a formal investigation ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who characterized the event as an irreparable loss. The Prime Minister's office has not yet provided a deadline for the completion of this inquiry. A hospital spokesperson did not immediately provide additional comments regarding changes to facility management or compensation for the affected families. Further details regarding the condition of the surviving infant and the specific findings of the technical investigation into the compressor explosion have not been reported.