ISLAMABAD: At least 15 newborns lost their lives after a devastating fire engulfed the nursery in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order an immediate investigation and the removal of the federal health secretary.
Officials said 16 infants were present in the nursery when the fire erupted, with only one newborn rescued alive. Conflicting accounts emerged over the number of confirmed deaths, with Health Minister Mustafa Kamal initially confirming 14 fatalities.
According to rescue sources, the blaze broke out at around 6:45am following the explosion of an air-conditioner compressor inside the nursery on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward.
The district administration said fire and rescue personnel responded to the emergency, deploying six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances.
Eyewitnesses, however, alleged that rescue teams arrived more than half an hour after the incident and claimed that hospital staff failed to use available firefighting equipment.
One eyewitness said patients and attendants were forced to evacuate on their own after panic spread through the ward.
Inquiry Committee Formed
Authorities have constituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by the additional deputy commissioner, to determine the cause of the fire and identify any negligence or lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.
The affected MCH ward has been sealed, while some parents alleged that staff members were absent from the incubation centre when the fire erupted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the deaths and ordered a detailed investigation, directing authorities to take strict action against anyone found responsible.
Later, while chairing a high-level meeting on the tragedy, the prime minister expressed strong displeasure over the incident and ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori.
Conflicting Accounts Over Cause and Response
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire spread rapidly after the explosion, while the hospital also lost electricity. He said officials were in contact with the victims’ families and that he was travelling from Karachi to Islamabad.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry attributed the fire to a short circuit, saying many of the children died from suffocation. He added that the presence of gas lines, plastic equipment and oxygen supply may have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
Rescue sources, however, raised serious concerns over the hospital’s emergency preparedness. They claimed that there was no water available at the designated fire point, couplings were missing from fire hoses and emergency evacuation routes were locked.
The sources also alleged that no doctors, ward attendants or other staff were present in the incubation centre when the fire began.
PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar disputed some of these claims, saying two doctors, four nurses and other staff members were present in the ICU at the time. He said one doctor succeeded in rescuing a newborn and maintained that the hospital had an adequate fire safety system.
Sikandar added that 24 oxygen cylinders were available at the facility and said rescue operations faced no obstruction. He vowed action against anyone found responsible following the investigation.
Leaders Express Grief
Condolences poured in from political leaders and other dignitaries following the tragedy.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the bereaved families, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the incident as an extremely heartbreaking tragedy.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and other leaders also expressed grief over the deaths. Maryam directed authorities to ensure the availability and proper functioning of firefighting equipment in hospitals.
The British High Commission also conveyed its condolences, describing the deaths of the newborns as heartbreaking and expressing sympathy with their grieving parents.
