Fire kills 14 newborns in Pakistan hospital nursery

Fourteen newborn babies died in a tragic fire that swept through a hospital nursery in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday. The blaze, which officials believe was caused by an exploding air conditioner, occurred at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.

Of the 15 infants in the nursery at the time, only one baby was rescued. Television footage captured dramatic scenes of rescue workers using ladders to access the third-floor nursery through broken windows. Grieving parents and relatives gathered at the hospital, some weeping uncontrollably, while others demanded answers about the cause of the fire and the adequacy of the nursery's firefighting equipment.

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I don’t know what to say or whom to blame. I have lost my child.

In response to the tragedy, the government has initiated an investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the removal of Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the Health Ministry's highest-ranking civil servant, from his post. The fire was confined to the nursery, with no other injuries reported in the rest of the public hospital facility.

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The deaths were heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the death toll and stated he was traveling to Islamabad to oversee the investigation. Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson, confirmed that the bodies of six babies had been handed over to their families, with the remaining bodies to be released soon. President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences, calling the deaths "heartbreaking and an irreparable loss" and urging that those responsible be brought to justice.

This incident is among the deadliest recent tragedies involving children in Pakistan. In June, 14 schoolchildren died when the roof of an under-construction tutoring center collapsed in Lahore. The government has urged hospitals nationwide to ensure effective fire-safety measures and emergency procedures are in place.

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Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the Health Ministry’s highest civil servant, to be removed from office.