Islamabad, Aug 26 (V7N)- A massive fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 15 newborn babies.
The fire broke out around 7 am local time on Wednesday at the Mother and Child Hospital, located on the third floor of the PIMS complex.
According to the Islamabad administration, rescue teams rushed to the hospital after receiving information about the fire. Six fire service vehicles and four ambulances were deployed to bring the blaze under control.
The fire was brought under control within a short time. Hospital staff and rescuers then evacuated newborns from the affected ward and transferred them to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, 15 newborns could not be saved.
PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aniza Jalil said the initial assessment suggests that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire.
Meanwhile, relatives of patients raised concerns about ongoing renovation and repair work in the building where the nursery ward was located. Malik Israr, a relative of a hospitalized woman, said it was unfortunate that newborns were being kept in a building undergoing such work.
He said hospital authorities instructed patients to leave the building after the fire broke out. Women who had recently given birth were also forced to leave the building using the stairs amid the emergency.
The Islamabad administration has formed an investigation committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner General to determine the exact cause of the fire and examine whether there were any lapses in safety measures.
Established in 1985, PIMS is the largest government hospital in Islamabad and one of the oldest major healthcare institutions in the Pakistani capital.
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