Daijiworld Media Network - Islamabad
Islamabad, Aug 26: At least 15 newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to local broadcaster Geo News.
As many as 16 newborns were reportedly present in the hospital's gynaecology ward when the fire broke out. Fifteen babies died in the blaze, while one was rescued.
Rescue officials told Geo News that the fire reportedly started after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the hospital's nursery.
The blaze has since been brought under control and cooling operations are under way, officials said. Further details about the incident and the identities of the victims are awaited.
The tragedy comes days after a separate fire at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Amravati District Women's Hospital in Maharashtra claimed the lives of three newborns.
The Amravati fire broke out in the early hours of August 24, reportedly following an explosion in a ventilator on the third floor of the hospital. Around 39 infants were undergoing treatment at the facility when the incident occurred.
Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff acted promptly to evacuate the infants, saving several lives. However, three newborns died in the incident, while six others were shifted to a super-speciality hospital for further treatment. Their condition was not immediately known.
According to preliminary information, the fire started in one of the ventilators in the NICU. The unit reportedly has three compartments, each with a capacity to accommodate 13 infants.
"The incident occurred around 3:15 am today in the NICU of the Amravati District Hospital. There were three compartments, and a fire broke out in one of them. Three infants have died. Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire started in a ventilator, and further investigation is underway," a police official said.
NCP leader Supriya Sule demanded a detailed investigation into the Amravati incident and called for the strictest possible action against those found responsible.
"In Amravati district's women's hospital, an explosion in a ventilator in the NICU department caused a fire, in which three newborns lost their lives, while a few others are in serious condition. This is an extremely heart-wrenching incident," Sule said in a post on X.
She said parents eagerly await the arrival of their children and described losing a newborn in such circumstances as an unimaginable ordeal for the families.
"This is not merely an accident but a glaring example of negligence in the system," Sule alleged, calling for accountability.
Investigations into both hospital fire incidents are continuing, with authorities expected to determine the exact causes and whether any safety lapses contributed to the deaths.