15 Infants Charred to Death in Pakistan Hospital Nursery Blast

ISLAMABAD: At least 15 newborn babies were killed after a fire tore through the neonatal nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad early Wednesday morning. The tragic blaze broke out around 6:45 AM on the third floor of the hospital’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ward, where 16 infants were receiving care. Preliminary findings by rescue officials indicate that the fire was triggered by a high-intensity air conditioner compressor explosion inside the nursery. The impact of the blast caused flames and thick smoke to rapidly engulf the enclosed room, leaving emergency responders with virtually no time to evacuate the infants safely.

Firefighters and emergency teams arrived swiftly at the scene, using gas cutters and breaking window panes to gain entry into the smoke-filled ward. Despite intensive efforts involving six fire tenders, rescuers were able to save only one infant alive, while 14 of the deceased babies were reported to have been completely charred in the intense heat. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the tragedy, terming it an “irreparable loss,” and ordered an immediate high-level investigation into the facility’s safety infrastructure. Local authorities have formed a inquiry committee chaired by the additional deputy commissioner general to establish accountability, as public outrage grows over fire safety standards in public healthcare institutions.