15 Infants Killed in Devastating Fire at Pakistan Hospital

ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: At least 15 infants were reported dead after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to local media reports.

The blaze erupted at around 7 am at PIMS, one of the largest public hospitals in Pakistan’s capital. Emergency teams responded to the incident and brought the flames under control, while cooling operations continued at the affected ward.

Geo News reported that 15 babies had died in the fire. However, authorities had not officially confirmed the reported death toll at the time of publication.

PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told Dawn that 15 infants had been present in the ward where the fire occurred. She said some babies might have been discharged during the night, making it difficult to establish the exact number of casualties immediately.

The spokesperson said the fire was suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. She added that although the flames had been extinguished, the affected area would require further cooling before emergency personnel could complete their assessment.

Authorities are expected to determine the precise number of infants affected as officials inspect the ward and verify hospital records.

The incident has raised serious concerns over fire safety and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities, particularly in areas housing newborn and critically ill patients.