Deadly blaze kills 14 newborns at Islamabad hospital
A fire broke out early Wednesday in the maternity ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, killing at least 14 newborns. Hospital officials said 15 babies were in the ward, with one rescued by a doctor. The health minister suggested an air conditioner may have sparked the blaze, but investigations are ongoing.
The blaze erupted before dawn in the maternity ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the capital’s largest state hospital. Fifteen infants were present; one was rescued by a doctor, while women who had recently given birth fled down multiple staircases. Hospital officials confirmed 14 deaths, with many babies in incubators or receiving oxygen, which may have intensified the flames. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal suggested an air conditioner as a possible ignition source, though investigators had not yet verified the cause. Construction work was ongoing at the facility, and emergency services received the call just before 7 a.m., quickly bringing the fire under control and transferring surviving children to intensive care.
This tragedy could heighten public scrutiny of fire safety enforcement across Pakistan’s healthcare and public buildings, where lax codes have historically contributed to frequent blazes. Families of the victims face profound grief, while hospital staff and administrators may confront accountability pressures. Nationally, the incident may prompt renewed calls for stricter building regulations and emergency preparedness, potentially influencing policy discussions on infrastructure safety, though immediate impact remains uncertain.