14 Newborn Babies Killed in Fire at Islamabad Hospital

At least 14 newborn babies have been killed after a fire broke out in the maternity and child health ward of Pakistan’s largest public hospital in Islamabad.

The blaze erupted early Wednesday at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with authorities saying the fire started on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health ward.

Hospital officials said at least 15 newborns were inside the nursery when the fire broke out. One baby was rescued, while the other 14 died in the incident.

The emergency call was received at about 6:54 a.m., and six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances were deployed to the hospital. Rescue teams brought the flames under control and transferred surviving patients to intensive care.

Initial reports have pointed to a possible fault involving an air-conditioning unit. Pakistan’s Geo News, citing rescue sources, reported that an air-conditioner compressor inside the nursery may have exploded. However, authorities have ordered a formal investigation and the precise cause remains under investigation.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

A multi-agency fact-finding committee has also been formed to examine the cause of the blaze, the hospital’s safety arrangements and the emergency response. Officials have been directed to establish responsibility and report their findings.

The tragedy has drawn grief from families gathered outside the hospital, with reports showing relatives being consoled as they awaited information about their children.

The incident has also renewed questions about fire safety and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s public hospitals, particularly facilities caring for critically ill newborns who may depend on incubators and oxygen equipment.

The fire is one of the deadliest hospital incidents reported in Pakistan in recent years.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the circumstances that led to the blaze and the deaths of the newborns.