{
  "id": 3438494,
  "title": "At least 15 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/at-least-15-infants-killed-in-islamabad-hospital-fire-3438494",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T05:40:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1519038/least-15-infants-killed-islamabad-hospital-fire"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At least 15 infants perished in a devastating fire at a state-run hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, according to local broadcaster Geo TV. The blaze erupted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday morning, triggered by a malfunction in the air-conditioning system. The fire ignited on the third floor of the hospital's mother and child health ward around 7am (0200 GMT). Among the 16 newborns present in the ward, one was miraculously rescued, while the remaining 15 succumbed to the inferno.\n\nThis tragic incident marks one of the deadliest hospital fires in recent years in the country, where government healthcare is subsidized but plagued by under-resourced and overburdened facilities. Criticism of state-run healthcare institutions has been rampant, with watchdogs frequently pointing out mismanagement.\n\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident, with his office stating that those responsible must be identified and the strictest action taken against them. The affected ward was cordoned off, and ambulances were spotted outside the hospital premises, as reported by a Reuters witness.\n\nPIMS, situated in the heart of Islamabad, is one of the city's principal public hospitals. It recently served as the treatment facility for former Prime Minister Imran Khan.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: At least 15 infants were killed when a fire broke out at a state-run hospital in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, triggered by a fault in the air-conditioning system, local broadcaster Geo TV reported on Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [
    "At least 15 infants died in Islamabad hospital fire",
    "Blaze started from air-conditioning malfunction",
    "Prime Minister ordered immediate investigation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "At least 15 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/at-least-15-infants-killed-in-islamabad-hospital-fire",
        "published": "2026-08-26T04:42:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Pakistan: 15 babies dead in fire at Islamabad hospital",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/pakistan-15-babies-dead-in-fire-at-islamabad-hospital",
        "published": "2026-08-26T04:43:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Pakistan: Islamabad hospital fire kills 15 infants",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/pakistan-islamabad-hospital-fire-kills-15-infants",
        "published": "2026-08-26T05:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Hospital fire kills 15 infants in Islamabad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/hospital-fire-kills-15-infants-in-islamabad",
        "published": "2026-08-26T05:44:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}