ISLAMABAD: Fourteen infants were killed in a fire that broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) early on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Islamabad administration said that the fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s ward. It said that rescue teams rushed to the scene, with six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances taking part in the rescue operation.
“The fire was immediately brought under control and the children were immediately shifted to the intensive care unit,” it said, adding that 14 children “were completely burnt”.
Pims Spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told Dawn that 15 babies were in the ward. “At least one baby was saved by a doctor,” she said.
Speaking to Geo News, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that the infants in the ward were either in incubators or on oxygen. He said the incident occurred at 6:45am due to a “blast in the air conditioner” inside the ward.
He said that the blast caused the fire, which was exacerbated due to the presence of the oxygen tanks. He confirmed that 14 infants had been killed, adding that law enforcement agencies were on the ground.
Malik Israr, whose niece was admitted to the gynae ward, told Dawn that it was unfortunate the nursery was housed in a building in which repair and renovation work was ongoing.
“After the fire erupted, they told patients to vacate the building. Women who had just given birth had to rush down the stairs from the second floor,” he said.
Pims, established in 1985, is Islamabad’s biggest public sector hospital. It is one of two of the oldest health facilities in the federal capital and comprises several hospitals and teaching institutes.
Fires in large buildings are frequent in Pakistan, often due to poor safety laws and building codes as well as lax enforcement.
Inquiry committee formed
A notification issued by the Islamabad district magistrate said that a fact-finding committee, headed by the additional deputy commissioner general, had been formed to determine the facts behind the fire.
The members of the committee included the director general of the Capital Emergency Services, the City police station superintendent, the assistant commissioner (Industrial Area), the director general of the Capital Development Authority’s Electrical and Mechanical wing, representatives from Pims and Islamabad Electric Supply Company.
The committee was tasked with determining the exact cause of the fire, assessing whether adequate and functional fire-safety measures were in place, and evaluating the response time and effectiveness of the rescue and fire-fighting operations.
The notification said that a report would be furnished within 24 hours.
PM takes notice
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the relevant authorities to investigate the incident. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he expressed deep sorrow and grief at the incident and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.
“Such a situation that involves children is unbearable,” the statement quoted him as saying. He said that the factors behind the incident should be examined and those responsible should be identified.
President Zardari expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families. In a statement, the president said that the loss of lives was “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss”.
“Responsibility for the incident should be determined and action should be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.
Effective fire safety and emergency arrangements must be ensured in hospitals for the protection of patients, especially newborn babies, the president urged.
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident. In a statement, he offered his condolences to the families affected.
He said effective safety measures, fire safety systems and all necessary arrangements to deal with emergencies must be ensured in hospitals to prevent such incidents.
“Any negligence in safety measures is unacceptable,” he said. Gilani urged the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and take effective and practical steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the deaths of the infants.
In a statement, he said he was “heartbroken” over the incident and shared equally in the pain and grief of the bereaved parents.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said in a statement that it was in “deep mourning” over the incident.
“The association reiterates that healthcare facilities are designed to protect and restore human lives, yet administrative failure and regulatory oversight lapses have turned these institutions into danger zones,” it said.
It demanded action against officials “whose failure to uphold safety codes resulted in this catastrophe”. It also demanded enforcing strict consequences so that “systemic failure serves as a decisive warning, preventing future lapses across both public and private medical facilities”.
It further said that there should be immediate restructuring and public accountability of health regulatory authorities responsible for enforcing safety protocols, building codes and emergency infrastructure in hospitals.
The PMA also called for “full institutional backing for the grieving parents, ensuring they receive complete legal, financial, and emotional justice”.
Additional input from AFP
