Health committee finds no evidence old AC caused fire that killed 14 newborns
Committee members demand that PIMS executive director and health minister resign
The National Assembly's health committee has concluded that the cause of the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that killed 14 newborns remains unknown. Committee chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar stated that conflicting accounts and a lack of CCTV evidence prevented them from determining the origin of the blaze. CCTV footage did not show the fire starting from an old air conditioner, and nurses working at the time could not pinpoint the initial spark.
The fire spread rapidly, within one minute, suggesting a potential issue with the oxygen pipeline or electrical wiring. The committee questioned why newborns were placed in an old nursery, as the building itself is 30 years old. They also inquired about the hospital's emergency preparedness, fire safety drills, and the functionality of fire alarms.
The committee's findings will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the National Assembly for further action.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
