- The blaze started around 7 a.m. (0200 GMT) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, on the third floor of the hospital's mother and child health ward, said broadcaster Geo TV, which put the death toll at 15.
- Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told Geo TV: "The fire erupted after a blast in (an) air conditioner," adding that ample oxygen in the ward helped it spread.
- There were 16 newborns in the ward when the fire broke out, one of whom was rescued, Geo reported.
- A grieving mother said: "It was a gynaecology ward there was no doctor, no nurse", adding that the bodies of the children were taken away "in boxes" and the women did not get to see them.
- A father who lost his child said: "The building that housed the ward "had no fire security, no proper exits. All doors were closed, only one door was (open) for us to visit our children".
At least 14 infants lost their lives in a devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Wednesday morning. The blaze, which started around 7 a.m. (0200 GMT), was triggered by an explosion in an air conditioner in the mother and child health ward.1
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that the fire spread rapidly due to the high oxygen levels in the ward, where 16 newborns were present at the time. Tragically, only one infant was rescued from the flames. Eyewitness accounts reveal a chaotic scene, with one parent lamenting, "The building that housed the ward had no fire security, no proper exits. All doors were closed, only one door was (open) for us to visit our children".23
The incident is among the deadliest hospital fires in Pakistan's recent history, highlighting the dire state of the country's healthcare system, which is often under-resourced and overburdened. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the incident and suspended the health secretary, emphasizing the need for accountability. One grieving parent expressed disbelief, stating, "It is not God's will… I don't accept it".
As the nation mourns, the tragedy raises urgent questions about safety standards in hospitals and the protection of vulnerable patients.
“The fire broke out around 7 a.m. in the mother and child health ward, where 16 newborns were present and only one was rescued. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal attributed the spread to ample oxygen, while a grieving mother said there was no doctor or nurse in the ward.”
