ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Fourteen newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out in a nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, August 26, according to hospital officials and the government. One other newborn was rescued from the nursery.
The fire erupted at about 6:45 a.m. in the Mother and Child Health ward on the hospital’s third floor. Officials initially said an air-conditioning compressor appeared to have exploded, but authorities have launched an investigation and the precise cause remains under examination.
Fire spread rapidly through nursery
The nursery housed at least 15 newborns when the fire began. According to preliminary information released by PIMS, the blaze spread extremely quickly, with oxygen equipment in the nursery contributing to the rapid development of the fire.
Medical staff and security personnel attempted to evacuate the babies. One newborn was rescued from the nursery, while patients and mothers in an adjacent ward were also evacuated. PIMS said emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers, was used during the response.
The fire was eventually contained to the nursery, preventing it from spreading throughout the hospital.
Investigation ordered
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation into the deaths and called for those responsible for any negligence to be identified.
A high-level inquiry committee has been established to determine what caused the fire, examine the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements and assess the effectiveness of the emergency response. The committee was instructed to report its findings within 24 hours, according to Pakistani officials.
Pakistan’s health authorities also moved to take administrative action following the tragedy. The Associated Press reported that the national health secretary was suspended as the government began examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Questions over hospital safety
The deaths have raised questions about fire protection and emergency preparedness at one of Pakistan’s largest public hospitals.
Reports have highlighted concerns about evacuation arrangements, fire-safety equipment and the absence of a sprinkler system in the affected nursery. Officials are expected to examine whether existing safety measures were adequate and functioning when the fire occurred.
Authorities have cautioned that the investigation must establish the exact cause and determine whether any failures or negligence contributed to the deaths.
Families demand answers
The tragedy left families grieving outside the hospital as authorities worked to identify the victims and complete the emergency response.
The deaths have prompted calls for accountability and stronger safety standards in hospitals across Pakistan, particularly facilities caring for newborns and other patients who cannot evacuate without assistance.
The incident has also renewed attention on the vulnerability of neonatal units, where infants may depend on incubators, oxygen supplies and other equipment that can complicate an emergency evacuation.
Government promises accountability
Pakistan’s political leadership expressed condolences to the families and called for a transparent investigation.
The government has said that any negligence identified by investigators will be addressed and that those responsible will face action.
For the families who lost their newborn children, however, the investigation will not undo the loss.
The immediate focus now is determining exactly how the fire began, why it spread so rapidly and whether the nursery’s safety systems were sufficient to protect the infants inside.
Key Facts
- Location: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
- Incident: Nursery fire
- Deaths: 14 newborns
- Newborns in nursery: At least 15
- Survivor: One newborn rescued
- Date: August 26, 2026
- Initial reported cause: Air-conditioning compressor/electrical failure; investigation ongoing
- Government response: High-level inquiry ordered
- Status: Investigation ongoing
Reporting Credit: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences — Hospital incident information; Government of Pakistan — Prime Minister’s Office; Pakistan Ministry of Health — Investigation and official response.
Editorial status: DEVELOPING
