ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):Fourteen newborn babies were killed when a fire broke out in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) early Wednesday morning, officials said. According to the Capital Emergency Service (CES) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department, the fire call was received at 6:54 am, and fire and rescue teams reached the hospital within seven minutes. Six fire brigade units …
14 newborns killed in fire at PIMS MCH ward
ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (APP):Fourteen newborn babies were killed when a fire broke out in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) early Wednesday morning, officials said.
According to the Capital Emergency Service (CES) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department, the fire call was received at 6:54 am, and fire and rescue teams reached the hospital within seven minutes.
Six fire brigade units and four ambulances were deployed to the site. The fire was brought under control promptly, while rescued children were shifted to the ICU for immediate treatment. Cooling and assessment operations were subsequently completed.
The district administration said the exact number of casualties and injuries was being verified by the assistant commissioner, police and rescue teams in coordination with the hospital administration.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep grief and sorrow over the deaths of the newborns and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
“An extremely tragic and heartbreaking incident has occurred at PIMS,” Mohsin Naqvi said, adding that all sympathies were with the grieving families and that he stood with them in their hour of grief.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration has constituted a committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner-General to investigate the cause of the fire, assess the rescue response and examine the effectiveness of fire-safety measures at the hospital.
The committee would also determine the circumstances leading to the incident and submit its findings.
