ISLAMABAD: Fourteen newborn babies who died in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad were laid to rest on Thursday as grieving families gathered for funerals and authorities continued investigating one of the country’s most devastating recent hospital tragedies.
The fire broke out early Wednesday in the nursery of the Mother and Child Health ward at PIMS, where hospital officials said 15 newborns were present. One baby survived, while 14 died in the blaze. Rescue authorities said emergency teams reached the hospital after receiving the alert and rescued several other people from the affected area.
The tragedy has raised serious questions about the circumstances that allowed the fire to spread so quickly, the availability of fire-safety systems and the effectiveness of the emergency response. However, the final cause of the fire and any question of negligence or responsibility remain matters for the ongoing investigation.
Newborns Laid to Rest as Families Mourn
The bodies of the newborn babies who died in the PIMS hospital fire were handed over to their bereaved families after proper identification, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said. He added that rescue teams reached the hospital within six minutes of receiving the information and rescued 19 people, including seven children.
The loss has left families devastated. Relatives told local media that no inquiry or punishment could bring their children back, while some parents questioned the condition of public hospitals and demanded better facilities and accountability.
One bereaved mother described the pain of losing a child after years of waiting for the family to welcome a newborn. Another father, speaking in Rawalpindi, appealed for better arrangements in government hospitals while describing the loss as unbearable.
A father from Rawalpindi’s Shamsabad area also criticised the hospital’s facilities and said the public healthcare system needed greater attention. Such concerns are being raised by affected families as the official inquiry examines the events surrounding the fire.
What Happened Inside the PIMS Nursery?
The fire broke out at around 6:40–7am on Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health ward at PIMS. The affected area was the neonatal care facility where newborns were being treated in incubators and, in some cases, receiving oxygen support.
The circumstances surrounding the ignition of the fire remain disputed in preliminary accounts.
According to an initial report attributed to the PIMS administration, a spark inside the nursery triggered the blaze, which spread rapidly because oxygen points were located alongside the incubators. The report said a subsequent blast occurred and that smoke entered the infants’ breathing systems through the piping.
A separate preliminary explanation came from Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who said an air-conditioning unit had allegedly exploded inside the ward and that the presence of oxygen intensified the fire.
Another government account initially referred to a possible electrical short circuit.
These differing preliminary accounts are significant because they show why the exact cause cannot yet be treated as established fact. Investigators will have to determine whether the fire originated from an electrical fault, an air-conditioning component, oxygen-related equipment or another source.
Why Did the Fire Become So Devastating?
The nursery contained highly vulnerable patients who could not evacuate independently. The newborns were also receiving intensive medical care, with some dependent on incubators and oxygen.
Officials have said the presence of oxygen contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. The PIMS preliminary report also described smoke entering the infants’ breathing systems.
The speed with which the fire spread is therefore a central question for investigators. They are expected to examine not only what ignited the fire but also how quickly it moved through the nursery, whether fire-safety equipment was available and functional, and how effectively newborns could be evacuated from the facility.
Families have also raised concerns about access to the ward and emergency exits. Hospital officials, however, have disputed some allegations concerning the ward being locked, saying access arrangements were related to security concerns. The conflicting accounts will need to be assessed as part of the formal inquiry rather than treated as established facts.
Investigation Underway at PIMS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri following an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
The inquiry committee is headed by retired Federal Secretary Shahid Khan and includes Major General (retd) Dr Khursheed Uttra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan and the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner.
According to the official terms of reference, the committee will determine the immediate cause of the fire, establish a timeline of events, review the emergency response and rescue operation, examine the evacuation procedures for high-risk newborns and assess PIMS’s fire-safety infrastructure and compliance with safety regulations.
The committee has also been tasked with determining whether negligence or responsibility can be established against any individuals and recommending reforms to prevent similar incidents.
An interim report is due within 48 hours, while the comprehensive investigation is expected within five days.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Thursday that he was prepared to face accountability if the investigation establishes negligence on his part and assured that the facts would be determined through a transparent inquiry.
UNICEF and International Community Express Grief
The tragedy has also drawn condolences from the international community.
UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside expressed deep sadness over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families. UNICEF also called for an urgent review and strengthening of fire-prevention and safety standards across health facilities so that mothers and children can receive care in safe environments.
The UN spokesperson also said the UN team in Islamabad was ready to support the Pakistani government following what was described as an exceptionally painful tragedy for the parents.
China’s embassy in Islamabad expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the newborns and conveyed condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, according to reports of the diplomatic response.
The British High Commission in Pakistan described the deaths as heartbreaking and extended its condolences and thoughts to the parents and families.
Iran also expressed condolences to Pakistan over the deaths, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson conveying sympathy to the affected families and solidarity with Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry extended its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Pakistan, and expressed solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.
What Is Known — and What Remains Unclear?
Several facts have been established by hospital and government officials: 14 newborns died, one newborn survived, and the fire broke out in the neonatal area of the PIMS Mother and Child Health ward on Wednesday morning. Authorities have also launched a formal investigation.
But important questions remain unanswered.
The final cause of the fire has not yet been established. Preliminary accounts have referred variously to a spark, electrical fault, air-conditioning equipment and oxygen-related factors. The investigation must establish the sequence of events and determine which explanation is supported by evidence.
Questions have also been raised about fire exits, emergency procedures, fire-safety equipment, staff response and access to the nursery. Some of these concerns are based on allegations by families or witnesses, while hospital and government officials have provided differing accounts. The inquiry has specifically been directed to examine these issues.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus is now on the investigation and its findings.
The inquiry committee is expected to establish how the fire started, how it spread, whether adequate safety arrangements were in place and whether the emergency response followed the required procedures. Its findings could determine whether disciplinary or legal action is warranted and what changes should be made at PIMS.
The tragedy has also placed renewed attention on fire safety in healthcare facilities, particularly neonatal and intensive-care units where patients cannot evacuate without assistance.
For the families who buried their newborns on Thursday, however, the investigation cannot undo the loss. Its importance now lies in establishing the facts, determining responsibility where evidence supports it and ensuring that the safety failures, if any are found, are not repeated.
The central question is no longer only what started the PIMS fire, but whether the systems designed to protect the most vulnerable patients were adequate when the emergency occurred.
