15 babies killed in Islamabad hospital fire, AC compressor blast suspected

At least 15 newborns were killed in a fire at PIMS hospital in Islamabad after an air-conditioner compressor reportedly exploded inside the nursery.

In Short

• Only one of 16 newborns in nursery rescued
• 6 fire trucks and 4 ambulances present at incident site
• Inquiry committee formed to investigate incident

At least 15 newborns were killed when a fire broke out at a state-run hospital in Pakistan's capital city Islamabad on Wednesday, triggered by a fault in the air conditioning systems, news agency Reuters reported, citing local broadcaster Geo TV.

The fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital around two hours before the report, Geo TV said. “Cooling operations” were ongoing, the broadcaster added.

According to Geo TV, 16 newborns were in the hospital's gynaecology ward when the fire broke out. One of them was rescued.

According to PIMS officials, the nursery housed 16 newborns at the time of the incident, of whom only one was rescued.

Rescue sources told Geo News that the fire started after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery at the hospital situated in the federal capital.

Rescue officials said that the blaze had been extinguished and teams were carrying out cooling operations at the site.

According to the district administration, 14 children were completely burnt in the fire that broke out on the third floor of the MCH ward,

Rescue teams reached the site immediately after receiving information, the district administration said, adding that six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances took part in the rescue operations.

An inquiry committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the additional deputy commissioner to investigate the incident. The committee would determine the cause of the fire and ascertain how the incident occurred, the district administration said.

- Ends