At Least 14 Newborn Babies Killed in Fire at Islamabad Hospital

ISLAMABAD: At least 14 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out in the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of the country’s largest public hospitals in Islamabad, according to hospital authorities.

The fire erupted in the early hours of Wednesday and rapidly spread through the maternity ward, where 15 newborn babies were reportedly being treated. Hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said one baby was rescued by a doctor, while the remaining infants died in the blaze.

Women who had recently given birth were forced to evacuate the ward and descend several flights of stairs as emergency teams responded to the incident. Rescue and police personnel reached the hospital shortly after receiving the emergency call, and firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said many of the newborns had been in incubators or receiving oxygen at the time of the fire. He indicated that oxygen cylinders may have intensified the blaze, while an air-conditioning unit was among the possible sources of ignition. However, authorities have not yet established the definitive cause of the fire.

The hospital administration said surviving children were immediately transferred to intensive care following the emergency evacuation. Rescue officials deployed several fire engines and ambulances to assist with the operation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and called for those responsible for any negligence to be identified and dealt with strictly. President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences to the families of the victims, describing the loss of the newborns as deeply heartbreaking.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety and enforcement of building and safety standards in Pakistan, where fires in large public and commercial buildings have frequently raised questions about emergency preparedness and infrastructure safety.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and whether any safety violations or negligence contributed to the deaths.