15 Newborns Die in Fire Caused by AC System Malfunction at Pakistani Government Hospital

A fire broke out at a government hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 15 newborn babies, according to reports.

The fire occurred around 7 a.m. on August 26 on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Department at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, and local broadcaster Geo TV reported that the blaze started due to a malfunction in the air conditioning system.

At the time of the fire, there were 16 newborns in the ward, and only 1 infant was rescued alive, meaning all 15 remaining babies died, according to the report.

The fire has become one of the deadliest hospital fire incidents in Pakistan in recent years.

Although the government subsidizes public healthcare in Pakistan, government hospitals frequently face criticism from observers due to insufficient medical equipment, patient overload, and weak management.

Regarding the fire incident, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant authorities to conduct an immediate investigation, and the Prime Minister's Office has issued a statement saying that those responsible for the incident will be identified and subjected to the strictest action.

PIMS hospital is one of the main government hospitals located in central Islamabad, and it was reported that former Prime Minister Imran Khan had briefly received medical treatment at the hospital during the past week.

Ref & Photo; Reuters