14 infants die in fire at Pims gynae ward; high-level inquiry committee formed

• Nursery housed 15 newborns at time of incident: officials.
• Inquiry committee formed to determine cause of fire.
• Fire started after an AC compressor exploded: sources.

ISLAMABAD: Fourteen infants died after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), officials said on Wednesday.

According to Pims officials, the nursery housed 15 newborns at the time of the incident, of whom only one was rescued.

Rescue sources said the fire started at 6:45am after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery at the hospital situated in the federal capital.

According to the district administration, 14 children were completely burnt in the fire that broke out on the third floor of the MCH ward.

Rescue teams reached the site immediately after receiving information, the district administration said, adding that six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances took part in the rescue operations.

However, eyewitnesses told Geo News that the fire brigade and rescue teams arrived a little over half an hour later and that when the incident took place, the staff scrambled and told people to evacuate.

"We rescued ourselves and our patients," said one eyewitness, who was an old lady, while another man said that the hospital staff did not use fire extinguishing equipment to put out the blaze.

'High-level committee formed'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the deaths, saying that such a situation involving children was "irreparable".

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the premier said that he shared "the grief of the parents".

PM Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting over the Pims nursery fire, expressing strong displeasure with relevant officials.

During the meeting, the prime minister ordered the immediate suspension of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his post. 

A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted on the prime minister’s directive to investigate the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with the government issuing a formal notification for the probe.

Former secretary of interior Shahid Khan has been appointed chairman of the inquiry committee, according to the notification. Major General (R) Dr Khurshid Utra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad will serve as its members.

The notification outlines a detailed mandate for the committee. It will determine the immediate cause of the fire and establish a timeline of events. 

The panel has also been tasked with reviewing the emergency response and relief operations carried out by hospital staff and relevant institutions, including the Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122.

A key focus of the inquiry will be assessing compliance with emergency SOPs for the evacuation of newborns, particularly high-risk infants, during the incident. The committee will additionally conduct a thorough review of fire safety infrastructure at Pims and the extent of adherence to existing safety regulations.

The panel has been empowered to fix responsibility and identify negligence on the part of any individuals involved in the incident, and will present recommendations for necessary administrative reforms at Pims aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.

Under PM Shehbaz’s instructions, the inquiry committee will submit an interim report to the Prime Minister within 48 hours, containing recommendations of an urgent nature. 

A comprehensive report, covering the complete investigation and actionable recommendations, is to be presented to the prime minister within five days.

The Ministry of National Health Services has been directed to immediately notify the inquiry committee and extend full cooperation and support to facilitate its work.

Pims issues first statement after fire

Meanwhile, Pims administration in a statement said that the incident occurred at 6:38am, when a spark ignited inside the nursery and quickly turned into an intense fire “within” seconds.

The administration said the fire suddenly intensified due to oxygen points connected to the incubators.

It added that two doctors and as many nurses immediately began a rescue operation, while security personnel also arrived to assist them.

“The staff attempted to enter the nursery twice to evacuate the babies. At 6:39am, an explosion occurred, causing the ceilings to collapse, according to the hospital administration.”

The statement added that duty staff managed to safely evacuate four babies from an adjoining room. Three mothers were also moved to a safe location during the rescue operation.

The administration said that 73 patients from the gynaecology ward located on the same floor were safely evacuated “within minutes”.

It added staff used all 35 fire extinguishers installed at Pims to control the blaze. According to the hospital administration, all emergency exits were fully open and operational at the time of the incident.

Bodies handed over to families

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that the rescue team reached the hospital within six minutes of receiving the fire alert.

Speaking to the media in the federal capital, the minister said that all administrative officers were present at the hospital immediately after the rescue operation.

The bodies of 14 children had been handed over to their families, he added.

According to Chaudhry, the initial rescue operation has been completed and its report sent to the prime minister and interior minister.

He said that PM Shehbaz had formed an inquiry team to investigate the incident. "If there was any negligence, it will emerge in the inquiry."

CCTV footage and all other evidence related to the incident had been secured, he said, adding that the inquiry would also determine how many doctors and staff members were present when the incident occurred.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the fire was caused by a short circuit, adding that most children died from asphyxiation.

According to Chaudhry, doctors, nurses and other staff were present during the incident and remained safe.

He said that the fire spread because of gas lines and plastic instruments inside the hospital, adding that oxygen supply also contributed to the spread of the fire.

The report — available with Geo News — said the fire brigade received information about the fire at 6:55pm and its first vehicle reached Pims within six minutes.

According to the report, the hospital's fire prevention arrangements did not meet prescribed safety requirements.

It said that emergency exit routes were found permanently closed from the outside, while obstacles were also present along safe emergency evacuation routes.

The report further stated that the Pims security staff obstructed the fire brigade personnel during their initial response to the incident.

It also found that arrangements for effectively managing the crowd at the scene were inadequate.

Who was there in the NICU?

Pims Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar said that two doctors, four nurses and other staff were present in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) when the fire occurred.

Speaking to the media, Sikandar said that one doctor managed to save a newborn during the incident.

He said hospital entry had previously been restricted because of incidents involving child theft in the past.

According to the Pims executive director, the hospital had a satisfactory fire safety system in place.

He added that 24 oxygen cylinders were present at the hospital and the rescue team faced no obstruction during its operations.

Sikandar vowed that action would be taken if anyone was found responsible for the incident.

Condolences pour in

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed deep grief over the tragic incident and conveyed his profound sympathies to the bereaved families, describing the tragic loss of innocent lives as heartbreaking and an irreparable tragedy.

Calling the deaths of newborns a deeply painful and irreparable loss, President Zardari said that those responsible for the incident must be identified and held accountable according to the law.

Political leaders expressed grief over the fire. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said he was "deeply saddened" by the tragic incident and expressed solidarity with the parents in their grief.

He prayed for strength and patience for the bereaved parents to bear the "irreparable loss".

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the incident as an "extremely heartbreaking and tragic event", saying all sympathies were with the grieving families.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed condolences over the loss of lives, describing news of the children's deaths as "sad and heart-wrenching".

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the deaths of innocent children were "extremely painful and distressing".

She directed that the presence and functionality of firefighting equipment be ensured in all hospitals.

The British High Commission described the incident as "heartbreaking", adding that its sympathies were with the children's parents during the difficult time.