Fire at hospital nursery in Pakistan’s capital kills 14 newborns, officials say

A devastating fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of 15 newborns. Tragically, only one newborn managed to survive the inferno. The fire reportedly ignited around 7 am following a suspected blast inside an air-conditioning compressor within the nursery.

Rescue teams swiftly responded to the emergency and worked diligently to put out the flames and evacuate the premises, employing cooling measures at the scene. Video footage circulating on social media depicted firefighters breaching the window of the nursery on the third floor of the hospital. According to rescue officials, the fire had been extinguished and personnel were currently conducting cooling operations at the site.

The nursery had been accommodating 16 newborns at the time of the fire. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances leading to the fire and the heartbreaking deaths of the infants. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a prominent government hospital in Islamabad, has previously catered to high-profile Pakistani political figures.

Notably, former Prime Minister Imran Khan sought medical attention at PIMS following a court-ordered health examination.