14 Infants Killed In Fire At Islamabad Hospital, Probe Ordered
At least 14 infants were killed on Wednesday after a massive fire broke out in the mother and child ward of Pakistan's largest public hospital in Islamabad, authorities said. The fire erupted around 7 am on the third floor of the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), according to the Islamabad administration. PIMS Spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told Dawn newspaper that 15 babies…
A fire erupted in the maternity and pediatric wards of Pakistan's largest public hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of at least 14 newborn infants, authorities confirmed. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) facility in the capital was the scene of the disaster, with the blaze igniting around 7 am on the third floor, according to the Islamabad administration.
The hospital's spokesperson, Dr. Aneeza Jalil, informed the news outlet Dawn that 15 infants were present in the ward at the time of the fire. She stated that one baby was rescued by a medical professional. A short circuit was suspected as the cause of the fire, which was swiftly brought under control by rescue teams, including six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances.
Health Minister Mustaf Kamal revealed that the fire rapidly spread due to oxygen lines in the ward. The hospital administration sought parental consent to conduct DNA tests on some unidentified infants. An inquiry committee has been formed, headed by the additional deputy commissioner general, to investigate the incident. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a high-level meeting of the Islamabad administration to address the tragedy and ordered a thorough investigation.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the newborns, describing it as an "extremely heartbreaking and irreparable loss."
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
