ISLAMABAD: A devastating fire in the nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies, while harrowing accounts from witnesses have raised questions over the hospital’s emergency response and fire-safety arrangements.
The blaze erupted early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Health ward at PIMS. Officials said 15 newborns were in the nursery at the time, with only one baby rescued alive.
The surviving infant was later shifted to Polyclinic Hospital. According to the baby’s aunt, she rushed toward the nursery after the fire broke out to rescue the child but was initially stopped by a female doctor. She said she eventually managed to take the baby out of the area.
The woman also alleged that adequate safety equipment was not available in the nursery and claimed that more babies could have been saved had timely efforts been made.
Another eyewitness, Muniba, said she had been at PIMS for two days with her sister-in-law when the fire broke out. She alleged that hospital staff left the area without informing families and that she saw no effective assistance being provided to those trapped inside.
Muniba stated that when she arrived at the burning place, the fire had already covered a vast area. She further alleged that the staff of the hospital, as well as the security guards, were preventing people from coming out saying that the news might spread about the incident.
She alleged that such negligence led to the loss of life and that many babies were trapped due to fire.
