NA Health Panel Visits PIMS, Suggests Fire in Nursery May Stem From 'Technical Fault'

A fire that tragically claimed the lives of 14 infants at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) may have been caused by a technical malfunction, according to members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The committee visited the site on Thursday to investigate the incident.

While Health Minister Mustafa Kamal initially suggested the fire resulted from a spark in an air conditioner, the standing committee chairperson, Mahesh Kumar Malani, indicated a broader investigation. "We have to see whether the fire was the result of negligence or a natural cause. It appears that there may have been a technical fault," Malani told reporters in Islamabad.

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We have to see whether the fire was the result of negligence or a natural cause. It appears that there may have been a technical fault.

Malani further noted that the exact source of the fire remains undetermined. Conflicting accounts from hospital staff complicate the investigation. One doctor reportedly stated a spark originated from a bundle of wires, while nurses described the fire as sudden. Another detail mentioned was that an old air conditioner, cited as a potential cause, had not been operational for some time, and the other two units were portable.

The committee's findings suggest a need for a thorough examination into the hospital's safety protocols and equipment maintenance. The investigation will aim to ascertain whether negligence or a technical issue was the primary cause of the devastating fire, ensuring accountability and preventing future tragedies.

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So no one saw where the spark came fro