A severe tragedy occurred at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the largest government hospital in Islamabad, on Wednesday morning. A fire erupted inside the nursery of the hospital's gynecology ward following the explosion of an air conditioner (AC) compressor. The blaze resulted in the death of 15 newborn infants, with only one baby rescued alive from the facility.
AC Compressor Explosion Sparks Rapid Blaze
The disaster unfolded on Wednesday morning when an AC unit compressor in the gynecology ward's nursery exploded with significant force. The explosion instantly filled the room with thick, toxic smoke and high flames. Because the fire spread rapidly within the enclosed space, staff were unable to immediately evacuate the newborns, severely hampering initial rescue attempts.
Only One Infant Rescued Alive
Emergency responders and hospital staff rushed to manage the situation, but the intense heat and heavy smoke complicated operations. Rescuers managed to retrieve only one newborn alive from the affected nursery, who was promptly placed under intensive emergency medical care. Tragically, the remaining 15 infants succumbed to burn injuries and asphyxiation at the scene.
Chaos at Facility Raises Infrastructure Concerns
The explosion and subsequent fire caused widespread panic across the hospital complex, leaving patients and visiting families in distress. The fatal incident has drawn sharp attention to electrical equipment maintenance, safety audits, and emergency response infrastructure within public medical facilities.
