Fire at hospital nursery in Pakistan leaves more than a dozen newborns dead
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
A fire at a newborn nursery in a major government hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, killed 14 babies early on Wednesday morning. The blaze broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, which was housing at least 15 newborns at the time, prompting grief among parents gathered outside the hospital and an immediate government investigation into how the tragedy occurred.
Rescue officials said the fire started at around 6:45am, apparently after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, part of the hospital's gynaecology ward. Firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly and rescue teams carried out cooling operations at the scene, though a hospital spokesperson did not immediately comment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths, ordered an urgent inquiry, and described the loss of children as "irreparable."
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In short
- Fire at Islamabad hospital nursery killed 14 newborn babies
- Cause suspected to be an exploding air-conditioning compressor
- PM Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation
How this story developed
- 2 months ago A fire at a newborn nursery in a major government hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, killed 14 babies early on Wednesday morning.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: kills, capital, officials, order, immediate
Right-leaning outlets 1
Only here: leaves, dozen, dead
Every side used: hospital, nursery, fire, newborns, pakistan
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Explained simply
Fourteen newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the nursery ward of a large public hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, known as PIMS, is one of the country's biggest state-run hospitals and treats large numbers of patients, including many mothers and newborns from across the region.
Officials say the fire is believed to have started when the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, part of the hospital's gynaecology ward, in the early hours of the morning. At least 15 newborns were in the unit at the time. Fire crews brought the blaze under control quickly, but the scale of loss of life among such young infants makes this one of the deadliest hospital fires reported in Pakistan in recent years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an urgent investigation into how the fire started and why it caused so many deaths, reflecting wider concerns about safety standards and equipment maintenance in Pakistan's public hospitals. The incident has prompted grief among families and renewed scrutiny of conditions in state-run medical facilities, which serve as the main healthcare option for many Pakistanis who cannot afford private care.
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