ISLAMABAD (MNN); Fourteen newborn infants were killed in a devastating fire that erupted in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) early Wednesday, triggering widespread grief and demands for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
According to the Islamabad administration, the fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital. Rescue teams, including six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances, rushed to the scene. Authorities said the blaze was brought under control and the affected children were shifted, but 14 infants lost their lives in the incident. PIMS officials said 15 babies were present in the ward, with one infant reportedly rescued.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said preliminary CCTV footage showed a spark in an air-conditioning unit at around 6:38am, followed by a fireball that rapidly spread through the ward. He said the exact cause of the tragedy was under investigation and stressed that no one found responsible for negligence would be spared.
The minister said preliminary information suggested that 14 of the 15 infants had been connected to oxygen tubes and that the presence of oxygen may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He stressed, however, that experts and relevant institutions were investigating the incident and that all facts would be established through a formal inquiry.
Witnesses and grieving families raised serious questions about the emergency response and safety arrangements inside the hospital. Some alleged that they waited for hours for help and were forced to break windows in an attempt to reach the affected neonatal unit. Others claimed that some doors were locked and that patients faced difficulties escaping the smoke-filled building.
Several parents who lost their newborn children demanded justice, while witnesses described scenes of panic, thick black smoke and desperate attempts by relatives and others to rescue those trapped inside. Some families alleged delays in the arrival of rescue teams and questioned the presence of medical staff and the availability of emergency exits.
However, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry rejected allegations of a delayed rescue response, saying emergency teams reached the hospital within minutes of receiving the information and rescued 19 people, including seven children, 10 mothers and two men. He said an investigation would determine whether there had been any negligence in the hospital’s internal safety arrangements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took immediate notice of the tragedy and ordered a comprehensive investigation. The Prime Minister’s Office said the premier expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and directed the authorities to identify those responsible and take the strictest possible action.
The prime minister subsequently suspended and removed Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri. Captain (Retired) Muhammad Mahmood, a BS-21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, was appointed as the new health secretary for three months or until the appointment of a regular incumbent.
A high-level inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan has been formed to investigate the tragedy. In addition, the Islamabad district administration has constituted a fact-finding committee to determine the exact cause of the fire, assess the availability and functionality of fire-safety measures and review the effectiveness and response time of rescue and firefighting operations.
The tragedy has sparked nationwide grief and strong calls for accountability. President Asif Ali Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders expressed sorrow and demanded a thorough investigation.
International organisations and diplomatic missions, including UNICEF, also expressed grief and called for stronger fire prevention and emergency safety standards in healthcare facilities.
The Pakistan Medical Association and several civil society organisations have demanded accountability and a comprehensive review of hospital safety systems, warning that the deaths of newborn children in a healthcare facility raise serious questions about administrative oversight, emergency preparedness and compliance with safety standards.
