Tragic PIMS fire claims lives of 15 newborns in Islamabad

A tragic incident unfolded at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26, when a fire broke out in its gynecology ward's neonatal unit. Sixteen infants were under care at the time; fire crews could rescue only one, while fifteen infants perished.

The spark is believed to have come from a malfunctioning air‑conditioner compressor, which exploded just before 7 a.m. Firefighters arrived swiftly, doused the flames and maintained a cooling operation to ensure the fire would not reignite.

The blaze affected the third floor of the Mother and Child Health ward, where fourteen babies were fully incinerated. The district administration sent six fire‑engine vehicles and four ambulances to the site.

In response, an investigative committee chaired by an additional deputy commissioner has been set up to uncover the root causes and assess the adequacy of the emergency response.