Fire at Islamabad Hospital Nursery Claims 14 Infant Lives
A blaze caused by an exploding air-conditioner at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences killed 14 newborns, prompting a government investigation and the removal of the health secretary.
A fire broke out in the third-floor nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Wednesday, killing 14 newborns and injuring one infant who was rescued, officials said. The blaze, which started after an air-conditioner exploded, was confined to the nursery while the rest of the hospital remained unaffected. Rescue workers used ladders and broken windows to reach the third floor, and the fire was later extinguished, according to the chief commissioner of Islamabad.
The incident prompted an immediate government response. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the removal of Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, and a fact-finding committee was tasked by the district magistrate to submit a report within 24 hours on the cause of the fire, safety measures, and emergency response. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal traveled from Karachi to oversee the investigation.
Hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said a doctor rescued one baby and that six bodies had already been handed to families, with the remaining remains to be released soon. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and called for accountability and improved fire-safety protocols in hospitals.
"A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a high-level meeting with officials. "The deaths are heartbreaking and an irreparable loss," President Asif Ali Zardari added, urging that those responsible be brought to justice.