On Wednesday, a tragic incident occurred at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, where fourteen newborn babies lost their lives due to a fire that erupted on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s ward.
The district administration reported that the fire originated in the hospital’s nursery, prompting immediate action from rescue teams who were alerted to the situation.
The Capital Emergency Service (CES) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) fire department confirmed their swift response to the blaze, managing to bring it under control. The CDA noted that the fire emergency was reported at approximately 6:45 am, with fire brigade and rescue teams arriving on the scene within seven minutes.
The rescue operation involved six fire engines and four ambulances. The CDA indicated that FS-01 and FS-05 fire tenders, along with rescue teams, CES ambulances, and the ICT administration, were all deployed during the emergency response. After the fire was extinguished, cooling operations and a site assessment were conducted.
According to a spokesperson from PIMS, there were fifteen newborn infants present in the ward when the fire broke out. Fourteen of them sustained severe burns and unfortunately did not survive, while one infant was rescued and is alive.
The spokesperson confirmed that the bodies of the deceased infants have been returned to their families. In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting and called for the “strictest action,” as stated in a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The prime minister expressed his deep dissatisfaction regarding the incident and suspended Health Secretary Aslam Ghori, instructing him to leave the meeting, according to the PMO.
PM Shehbaz also extended his condolences to the grieving parents of the newborns who perished in the fire.
“This tragic incident has deeply saddened my heart. We share in the sorrow of the parents. May Allah Almighty grant patience to the bereaved families,” the prime minister remarked.