PIMS fire inquiry finds no functional fire alarm or sprinkler system after 14 newborn deaths
An inquiry into the fire that killed 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has identified an electrical fault as the most probable cause while pointing to wider failures in fire safety, emergency preparedness and hospital management. The 43-page inquiry report, available with Dawn, found that the nursery lacked a functioning automatic smoke detection and alarm system as…
An inquiry into the tragic fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that claimed the lives of 14 newborns has revealed a lack of functional fire safety measures, including an unresponsive automatic smoke detection system and a non-existent sprinkler system. The fire likely sparked from an electrical fault near an air conditioning unit, as identified by the National Forensics Agency.
The report found no evidence of arson, multiple ignition points, or external electrical issues. Concerns about PIMS' fire safety had been raised previously, but they were not adequately addressed before the disaster. The nursery housed 15 newborns, despite being designed for only 10, and had only two doctors and two nurses on duty.
The inquiry called for immediate fire, life-safety, and electrical audits, along with proper evacuation procedures and a tested incident-command system.
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