Fourteen newborns perish in fire at Pakistan’s leading government hospital
Developed over time first seen 3 hours ago
A fire swept through the neonatal ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad in the early hours of Wednesday, claiming the lives of 14 newly born infants. The incident occurred in a nursery caring for at least 15 babies at the time. Investigators have identified a malfunctioning air conditioning unit as the probable cause of the blaze, which drew immediate government scrutiny and sparked an urgent probe into safety protocols at one of the country's most prominent medical facilities.
- Fire at Islamabad's PIMS hospital killed 14 newborns in the maternity ward early Wednesday
- At least 15 infants were in the nursery when the blaze, likely triggered by a faulty AC unit, broke out
- Government has launched an investigation as bereaved families gather outside the hospital
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Fourteen babies died after a fire broke out in the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, one of the country's main government-run hospitals. The blaze happened overnight in a nursery that was caring for at least 15 infants at the time, meaning nearly all the babies in that unit were affected.
PIMS is a major public hospital in Pakistan's capital, often used as a benchmark for state healthcare provision and treating patients from across the country. Because it is a flagship government facility, any failure in its safety standards raises wider questions about conditions in hospitals nationally, particularly in units caring for the most vulnerable patients, such as newborns.
Early reports point to a faulty air conditioning unit as the likely cause, though this is still being investigated. The tragedy has prompted the government to order an urgent inquiry into what happened and why safety measures failed to prevent it.
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