At least 14 babies die in Pakistan hospital fire

What the report says

At least 14 newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the mother and child unit of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of Islamabad’s main state-run hospitals, BBC World News reported. The blaze began on Wednesday morning in an air conditioning unit on the third floor, according to a hospital spokesman. Officials said 15 babies were in the ward at the time; one survived. Many of the infants were in incubators or connected to oxygen equipment, which can intensify a fire even though oxygen itself does not burn.

The BBC reported that the dead babies were badly burned and would need DNA testing before their bodies could be returned to families. Emergency teams rescued at least 19 other people, including women, children and men. Witnesses described smoke, broken glass and confusion as families said help appeared to arrive slowly. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply upset by the incident and ordered an immediate investigation.

Pakistan’s health minister and hospital officials have not yet explained why the fire spread so quickly, but the incident has renewed attention on hospital safety in the country. A district magistrate has set up a fact-finding committee to report within 24 hours. The tragedy also comes against a wider backdrop of repeated fire incidents in Pakistan, where enforcement of safety rules and building standards has often been criticized.