At least 14 infants were killed in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, according to a report by local broadcaster Geo TV. The blaze reportedly broke out after a fault in the hospital’s air-conditioning system. The incident affected the area where the infants were receiving treatment, with emergency teams responding to the fire.
According to initial reports, the air-conditioning system fault triggered the blaze inside the hospital. Details about the exact nature of the technical failure, how quickly the fire spread and how it was brought under control were not immediately available. Information about the evacuation of patients and staff and the extent of the damage was also limited in the initial account.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is a major government-run hospital in Islamabad that provides medical care to patients from the capital and surrounding areas. The reported deaths have raised concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in hospital units caring for critically ill patients and infants, who may require specialised assistance during an emergency.
The infants were reportedly undergoing treatment when the fire broke out. Newborns and critically ill infants can be particularly difficult to evacuate during emergencies because they may depend on medical equipment and constant assistance from healthcare workers. A fire in such a unit can therefore create serious risks for both patients and medical staff.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances that led to the fire and determine whether the hospital’s safety systems and emergency procedures were functioning properly. Further details about the victims, the response by hospital staff and emergency services, and the full extent of the incident were not immediately available in the information provided.
The reported deaths have made the incident a major tragedy for the affected families and the medical community in Islamabad. Further information is expected as authorities assess the cause of the blaze and the hospital’s response. The initial report identified a fault in the air-conditioning system as the reported trigger and put the number of infant fatalities at at least 14.