Tragedy in Islamabad: 14 babies die in fire at PIMS maternity hospital

A devastating fire broke out in the gynecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 14 babies.

A total of 15 babies were in the ward when the flames erupted. According to reports by local media, only one of them managed to survive.

Rescue teams suspect that the fire was caused by the compressor of an air conditioner inside the ward exploding.

The incident was recorded at around 07:00 in the morning. A witness, whose niece was being treated at the hospital, told the Dawn newspaper that repair and reconstruction work was under way in the building.

Immediately after the fire started, patients were ordered to leave the building. Women who had given birth shortly beforehand were forced to quickly descend from the second floor via the stairs.

Established in 1985, PIMS is considered Islamabad’s largest public hospital and one of the oldest healthcare institutions in Pakistan’s capital.

Pakistan’s Senate President, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, expressed his sorrow over the incident and offered his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.

“Such a situation, involving children, is unbearable,” Gilani said. He stressed that hospitals must be equipped with appropriate safety measures, functioning fire-protection systems and clear procedures for dealing with emergencies.

He also called for the causes of the fire to be fully investigated, warning that any negligence in implementing safety measures was unacceptable.