A devastating fire engulfed a critical care nursery at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, resulting in the deaths of 14 newborn infants. The tragic incident has triggered widespread grief and anger among families and the public, raising serious questions about hospital safety protocols and emergency preparedness.
Tragedy Strikes PIMS Nursery
The fire, which occurred in the early morning hours, transformed what was supposed to be a secure environment for vulnerable infants into a scene of catastrophe. According to hospital management, the blaze originated from a short circuit in the nursery's air-conditioning unit. At the time of the incident, 15 newborns were present in the nursery; only one child was successfully rescued from the burning ward.
Eyewitness Accounts and Rescue Efforts
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic and harrowing scene as smoke filled the corridors of the maternity unit. Arif Rana, whose sister had given birth the day before, recounted rushing into the building through thick smoke and intense heat after receiving a frantic call. Firefighters and rescue teams faced significant challenges accessing the affected area. An official from Rescue 1122 indicated that emergency calls began around 6:45 AM, with rescue units arriving shortly after. Firefighters were compelled to break through concrete grills and windows to gain entry, as the building's layout and blocked emergency exits hampered immediate access.
Allegations of Staff Absence and Blocked Exits
Relatives present at the hospital during the fire have raised serious concerns regarding staff presence and the accessibility of emergency exits. Kamran Riaz, whose three-day-old niece was among the victims, stated that his brother reported minimal staff during the initial moments of the fire. Several witnesses corroborated that the older wing of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS, where the fire erupted, had only one main entrance and exit, with emergency exits reportedly blocked from inside. Abdul Ghaffoor, another witness, mentioned a longstanding hospital policy of keeping exits locked in maternity wards to prevent baby abductions, which inadvertently trapped individuals during the emergency.
Government Response and Investigations
In the wake of the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated an investigation into the incident. The federal health secretary, Aslam Ghaury, has been suspended, and two separate inquiry committees — one by the Islamabad district administration and another by the Prime Minister's office — have been formed to ascertain the causes and responsibilities. This incident follows a similar fire in June 2024 at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in Punjab province, where 11 babies died due to an air-conditioning fault and expired fire extinguishers, leading to arrests of hospital officials.
Families Demand Accountability
Families of the victims and survivors have expressed profound grief and anger, demanding accountability for what they perceive as gross negligence. Samina Waqar, whose sister and newborn survived, criticized the hospital administration for failing to ensure adequate safety measures, particularly in a critical care nursery. The sentiment among the affected families is that a facility designated for the most vulnerable patients should have the highest safety standards, making the current outcome an unacceptable tragedy.
