ISLAMABAD: A PIMS nursery fire killed 14 newborns early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Hospital, according to the Islamabad administration, which has formed an inquiry committee.
The blaze broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital, part of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances took part in the emergency response, officials said.
PIMS officials said one infant was rescued by a female doctor. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before beginning cooling operations in the affected area.
14–15 infants have died at PIMS Hospital… someone has blood on their hands. this is beyond horrifying. pic.twitter.com/EgUVuy2zOu
— Dexie (@dexiewrites) August 26, 2026Initial accounts differed over the cause. PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil told the media the fire appeared to have resulted from a short circuit, while rescue reports cited an air-conditioning compressor explosion. PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Rana Imran Sikandar said the exact cause had not yet been determined.
The Islamabad administration formed an inquiry committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner General to establish what caused the fire and examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Early media reports put the death toll at 15, but the latest Islamabad administration statement and subsequent reporting confirmed 14 deaths. Fifteen babies had been reported present in the ward, with one rescued.
Read: PIMS Staff Shortage: 467 Doctors Fill 852 Sanctioned Posts
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation into the fire, according to the Associated Press.
