Islamabad, August 26 (TNA) At least 15 infants were killed on Wednesday after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital, according to local media and officials. Rescue teams said the blaze began early in the morning inside the nursery on the third floor, where 16 newborns were being treated at the time.
Only one newborn was rescued from the ward, while the others reportedly died in the fire. Reports said the fire may have been triggered by a fault in the air-conditioning system or an exploding compressor, though the exact cause has not yet been officially confirmed.
Firefighters and rescue crews brought the blaze under control and carried out cooling operations at the site. Hospital and district officials have launched an inquiry into the incident, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation.
The fire has raised fresh questions about fire safety and emergency preparedness in neonatal and maternity wards at understaffed public hospitals in Pakistan. Officials said more details would be shared after the inquiry is completed.