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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.
Footage aired on television showed rescue workers using ladders and going through broken windows to access the affected area.
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”.
It said that an inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner general had been formed to investigate the incident.
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” located in 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.
PM Takes Notice: Pakistan 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.
