At least 15 newborns killed in Islamabad hospital fire

At least 15 newborn infants died after a fire broke out early this morning on the third floor of the mother-and-child ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, authorities said. The blaze erupted at about 7:00 a.m. local time, when 16 newborns were in the unit; one infant was rescued.

The fire was reportedly triggered when a compressor in an air-conditioning unit exploded on the ward. Parents at the hospital said there was no medical staff present at the incubator centre when the fire started.

Government response and investigation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an urgent inquiry into the incident; his office said: "It must be determined who is responsible and the strictest measures must be taken." The affected neonatal unit was secured by police, and ambulances were seen outside the hospital.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as hospital personnel and emergency teams worked to evacuate the ward. The number of victims makes the blaze one of the deadliest hospital fires in the country in recent years.

Pakistan’s public healthcare system is subsidised by the state but frequently faces resource shortages and overcrowding. State hospitals have repeatedly come under criticism over management and safety standards.

Authorities have not yet released a full list of victims or a timetable for the formal investigation, and further details are expected as investigators examine the unit and speak with hospital staff and witnesses.

Photo: Printskrin / Iks/@surbhigarwal