ISLAMABAD — A devastating fire tore through the nursery section of the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday morning, killing at least 15 newborns in one of the deadliest hospital tragedies to hit the federal capital in recent years.
Hospital officials said the nursery had been sheltering 16 infants when the blaze erupted, and only one child survived the disaster.
What Caused the PIMS Islamabad Fire
Rescue officials traced the origin of the fire to around 6:45am, when an air-conditioner compressor reportedly exploded inside the nursery. The unit was located on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward, within the hospital premises in Islamabad.
Emergency crews said the flames were brought under control soon after they arrived, and teams remained at the site afterward to carry out cooling operations and prevent any flare-up.
District administration officials confirmed that 14 children suffered fatal burns in the fire, with rescue teams arriving at the scene almost immediately after the alert was raised. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances were deployed to manage the emergency response.
Ward Sealed as Inquiry Begins
Following the tragedy, authorities sealed off the MCH ward to secure the site for investigation. An inquiry committee, headed by the additional deputy commissioner, has since been constituted to establish exactly how the fire started and why it spread with such devastating consequences.
Adding to the controversy, several grieving parents claimed that no staff members were present in the incubation unit at the time the fire broke out, raising serious questions about supervision and safety protocols inside one of Islamabad’s largest public hospitals.
PM Shehbaz Sharif Orders Investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reacted swiftly to the news, directing officials to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and to take firm action against anyone found responsible.
Calling the loss of young lives “irreparable,” the prime minister said he shared in the sorrow felt by the families affected. He further instructed authorities to conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the fire and to fix accountability once the facts are established.
As the investigation into the PIMS Islamabad fire unfolds, pressure is mounting on hospital administration and city authorities to explain the safety lapses that allowed such a tragedy to occur inside a supposedly secure neonatal care unit.