At least 14 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday morning, according to rescue officials and local media reports.
The fire broke out at around 7 am reportedly after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery.
Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf said an emergency fire call was made just before 7 am local time Wednesday. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and controlled the fire.
In a statement, according to the Dawn, the Islamabad administration said that the fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s ward. It said that rescue teams rushed to the scene, with six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances taking part in the rescue operation.
“The fire was immediately brought under control and the children were immediately shifted to the intensive care unit,” it said, adding that 14 babies had died.
It said that an inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner general had been formed to investigate the incident, the report added.
(This is a developing story)
