Pakistan Hospital Fire Claims 14 Newborn Lives
It was just after dawn when a dire blaze erupted in the maternity ward of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, claiming the lives of 14 babies and leaving parents in despair.
The fire ignited inside an air‑conditioner on the third floor, quickly blocking all routes to the nursery. Witnesses observed that the ward’s door had been locked to prevent baby theft—a decision that ultimately trapped the infants amid thick black smoke.
Rescue teams were able to reach the scene only after the emergency call, but many victims were already dead by then. The apparent absence of fire extinguishers, proper exits, and on‑site staff alarmed by the blaze highlights systemic safety failures at PIMS, a major state‑run hospital.
'There was a long wait for rescue workers,' reported Khurram Mehmood, 40, to AFP. He lost a three‑day‑old daughter in the inferno. Another mother, Jaweria, said the door to the maternity ward was locked and she had to break it down.
Health Minister Khalid Miller alleged the locked exits were intended to secure babies from theft—a practice that has ‘hurt others’ in the past. Hospital executive Rana Imran Sikander denied that the door was locked, explaining it was manned for security.
'Police arrived after four hours and said they were here to investigate,' said Jaweria. The threat of stalled, trapped children triggered a widespread outcry.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow, suspended the federal health secretary, and called for an immediate investigation. He has urged authorities to review fire safety regulations to avoid similar tragedies.
This fire echoes earlier incidents, such as a January mall blaze that killed dozens, where locked exits were repeatedly cited as a key factor in the loss of life. The incident calls scrutiny of Pakistan’s building codes and fire‑safety enforcement.
Witnesses say duty staff were absent, and only afterwards crews broke windows and doorways. The thick smoke and delayed response caused the unimaginable tragedy—twelve infants perishing inside the nursery.
The population of Islamabad is up to 20 million, and with PIMS as a national centre of maternal and child health, this disaster raises grave questions about public safety in the country.
