Islamabad: At least 14 infants have reportedly died after a fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, according to reports in Pakistani media.
The blaze is believed to have been triggered by a fault in the hospital’s air-conditioning system, with the fire reportedly affecting an area where infants were being treated.
Emergency teams and hospital staff responded to the incident as efforts were launched to control the fire and evacuate patients from the affected section.
The incident has raised serious questions over fire safety and emergency preparedness at the hospital, particularly in areas housing critically ill newborns and other vulnerable patients.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances that led to the fire, including the reported malfunction in the air-conditioning system, and determine whether any lapses in safety measures contributed to the deaths.
Further details regarding the number of people affected and the exact circumstances of the incident are awaited.
