How did a fire kill 14 newborns at a Pakistan hospital? What we know so far

A devastating fire inside a newborn nursery at one of Pakistan’s biggest government hospitals has left families grieving and raised urgent questions about hospital safety, emergency preparedness and how the blaze spread so quickly.

Authorities have ordered an investigation as officials piece together exactly what happened inside the ward.

What happened at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad?

The fire broke out early Wednesday, August 26, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, or PIMS, a major government-run hospital in Islamabad. The blaze was reported in a nursery on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Health ward, where newborn babies were being cared for.


Initial accounts differ slightly on the exact number of babies who were inside when the fire started. Some reports said 15 newborns were in the nursery, while others put the number at 16.

However, federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that at least 14 babies had died. Reports also said one infant was rescued alive.

The discrepancy in the early death toll is likely to be clarified as authorities complete their investigation and hospital officials finalize records.

What caused the Pakistan hospital fire?

Rescue officials initially said the fire began at around 6:45 a.m. after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded. Other early reports referred to a possible electrical fault or short circuit involving the air-conditioning system.

At this stage, however, the precise cause has not been officially established through a completed investigation. That distinction could prove important, as authorities are now examining not only what sparked the blaze but also how it spread through a ward housing some of the hospital's most vulnerable patients.

Reuters also reported that Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the presence of oxygen in the ward may have accelerated the spread of the fire, a factor investigators are expected to examine closely.

Why was the nursery so difficult to evacuate?

That question is now at the heart of the tragedy.

Newborns in a hospital nursery, particularly those receiving intensive care, cannot simply be carried out in the way other patients might be evacuated. Some may require incubators, oxygen or other forms of continuous medical support.

In the middle of a fire, smoke, heat, loss of electricity and the need to disconnect or move medical equipment can turn an evacuation into a race against seconds.

The fire was eventually brought under control, but for many families the response came too late. Outside PIMS Hospital, grieving parents and relatives gathered as police were deployed around the facility.

Some parents questioned whether the nursery had adequate fire-safety arrangements and whether more could have been done to get the babies out. Reuters reported concerns from families about the ward's exits and fire protection, allegations that are now expected to form part of the official scrutiny.

A 24-hour investigation has been ordered

The Islamabad administration moved quickly to set up a multiagency fact-finding committee. The panel has reportedly been asked to examine the origin of the fire, the circumstances that allowed it to spread, the availability of fire-safety measures and the effectiveness of the emergency response.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and called the deaths an irreparable tragedy. Other senior officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari, also expressed condolences and called for accountability if negligence is established.

(With inputs from agencies)