14 infants die in Pakistan hospital fire

Fourteen infants perished in a devastating fire that erupted Wednesday in the maternity ward of a hospital in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. Officials are investigating the cause, with initial reports pointing to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.

The fire broke out on the third floor of the maternal and child health department at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The district office of Islamabad confirmed the tragic death toll. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the incident.

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In total, 14 children died in the incident.

Witnesses recounted scenes of panic and distress, with thick smoke filling the air and broken glass littering the floor. Reports suggest a delayed response from emergency services and hospital guards, with some witnesses claiming guards initially prevented people from leaving the premises.

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My wife was in the maternity ward, they evacuated everyone. We were sitting on the road waiting for help.

One distraught father, Khurram Mehmood, 40, shared his grief over losing his three-day-old baby, lamenting the hours it took for rescuers to arrive. Another woman, Jaweria, whose baby died in the fire, expressed disbelief and anguish, questioning why children were left unattended in the locked neonatal intensive care unit.

Abdul Ghafoor, who attempted to help, described the rapid spread of the fire and the thick black smoke that trapped patients. He stated that rescuers took two hours to reach the scene. However, Islamabad's chief commissioner, Sohail Ashraf, asserted that rescuers and police responded immediately. A witness contradicted this, claiming hospital security hindered people's escape, forcing them to break down doors while rescue teams broke windows to control the blaze.

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I can't believe it. Give me back my child! Why did the doctors leave the children there?

Shagufta Parveen, a mother clutching her 10-day-old baby, described the chaos and smoke, expressing gratitude that her child was safe. UNICEF has urged a review and strengthening of fire prevention and safety standards in healthcare facilities across Pakistan, highlighting the frequency of fires due to inadequate safety laws and building codes.

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The fire spread very quickly, there were babies as young as one day old. I entered the hospital to save patients, but I couldn't reach the maternity wing. There was black smoke inside and patients were trapped... Rescuers took two hours to arrive.