Fire at Islamabad Hospital Nursery Kills 14 Newborns

A fire erupted in the early hours of Wednesday in the nursery ward for newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the largest state hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. At least 14 newborn babies died as a result of the fire, according to hospital officials and government authorities. Officials said 15 babies were in the ward when the fire broke out. Pakistani authorities have ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. Accounts differ on the cause of the blaze: one report attributed the fire to an air-conditioning unit exploding in the ward, though this has not been corroborated by other sources. Witnesses told the BBC that the ward door was locked at the time of the fire, but hospital officials disputed this, stating the door was not locked but was instead manned by security guards intended to protect the babies. The exact sequence of events during the fire, including how quickly staff and emergency responders were able to respond, has not been detailed across reports. The cause of the fire remains unresolved, with conflicting explanations offered by witnesses and hospital officials regarding both the ignition source and the accessibility of the ward's exit. The government-ordered inquiry is expected to address these discrepancies, though no timeline or findings have been reported. Further details on hospital safety protocols, staffing at the time of the fire, and any disciplinary or policy actions resulting from the investigation have not yet been confirmed.