Locked inside: Grief and anger as Pakistan hospital fire kills 14 newborns
Summary
A fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Islamabad killed 14 newborn babies in the nursery. The fire started early in the morning due to a short circuit in the air-conditioning unit, and rescue workers had difficulty reaching the victims because of locked or blocked exits.Key Facts
- The fire happened on a Wednesday morning at around 6:30 am in the newborn nursery of Pakistan’s largest public hospital, PIMS in Islamabad.
- There were 15 newborns in the nursery; only one baby was rescued.
- Hospital officials said the fire was caused by a short circuit in the air-conditioning unit.
- Rescue workers had to break concrete grills and windows to enter the ward.
- The nursery had only one accessible entrance and exit; another exit was reportedly blocked.
- In June 2024, a similar fire in a hospital in Punjab province killed 11 newborns due to faulty equipment.
- There were conflicting reports about when rescue teams arrived, ranging from 6:45 am to 7:06 am.
- Families of victims expressed confusion and grief over the incident and safety conditions in the hospital.
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