ISLAMABAD, Aug 26 (Alliance News): Fourteen newborns died after a fire broke out in the nursery of the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad on Wednesday, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order an inquiry and suspend Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori.
According to Pims officials, 15 newborns were present in the nursery when the fire broke out, but only one infant was rescued.
Rescue sources said the fire started at around 6:45am after an air-conditioner compressor reportedly exploded inside the nursery. The district administration said the fire broke out on the third floor of the MCH ward and 14 children died in the incident.
The district administration said rescue teams reached the hospital immediately after receiving information about the fire. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances participated in the rescue operation.
However, eyewitnesses told Geo News that the fire brigade and rescue teams arrived more than half an hour after the fire started. They said hospital staff initially scrambled to respond to the emergency and asked people to evacuate.
One eyewitness said people “rescued ourselves and our patients”, while another alleged that hospital staff did not use firefighting equipment to extinguish the blaze.
Bodies handed over to families
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the rescue team reached the hospital within six minutes of receiving the fire alert.
He said the bodies of all 14 newborns had been handed over to their families and that the initial rescue operation had been completed.
Chaudhry said the report of the rescue operation had been sent to the prime minister and interior minister. He added that the inquiry would determine whether negligence was involved.
CCTV footage and other evidence related to the incident had been secured, while investigators would also determine how many doctors and staff members were present when the fire broke out.
Probe committee formed
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a detailed investigation into the incident and directed that strict action be taken against anyone found responsible.
The prime minister later chaired a high-level meeting on the Pims nursery fire and expressed displeasure with the relevant officials.
He ordered the immediate suspension of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori and constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, former interior secretary Shahid Khan was appointed chairman of the inquiry committee.
The committee will examine the cause of the fire, fire safety arrangements, the response of hospital staff and emergency services, and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Fire spread quickly
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed the deaths of 14 newborns and said the fire spread very quickly.
He said the hospital’s electricity supply also went out immediately after the explosion.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the fire was caused by a short circuit and that most of the children died from asphyxiation.
He said doctors, nurses and other staff were present during the incident and remained safe.
According to Chaudhry, gas lines and plastic instruments contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, while the oxygen supply also played a role.
Fire safety arrangements questioned
Rescue sources described the fire safety arrangements at Pims as extremely inadequate.
They said there was no water at the fire point and that couplings were missing from the fire hose. Emergency evacuation routes were also reportedly locked.
A CDA Fire Brigade Department report identified inadequate fire safety and life protection arrangements at the hospital.
According to the report, the fire brigade received information about the incident at 6:55pm and its first vehicle reached Pims within six minutes.
The report said the hospital’s fire prevention arrangements did not meet prescribed safety requirements.
It noted that emergency exit routes were permanently closed from the outside and that obstacles were present along safe evacuation routes. The report also said Pims security staff obstructed fire brigade personnel during their initial response.
The report further found that arrangements to manage the crowd at the scene were inadequate.
Who was present in the NICU?
Pims Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar said two doctors, four nurses and other staff members were present in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when the fire broke out.
He said one doctor managed to rescue a newborn during the incident.
Sikandar said access to the hospital had previously been restricted because of past incidents involving child theft.
He maintained that the hospital had a satisfactory fire safety system and said 24 oxygen cylinders were present at the facility.
The Pims executive director said action would be taken if anyone was found responsible for the tragedy.
Condolences pour in
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the deaths and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.
He described the loss of the newborns as heartbreaking and said those responsible must be identified and held accountable according to law.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also expressed grief and solidarity with the parents, praying for strength and patience for the bereaved families.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the incident as extremely heartbreaking and tragic, while Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed condolences over the loss of lives.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described the deaths as extremely painful and distressing and directed authorities to ensure the presence and functionality of firefighting equipment in all hospitals.
The British High Commission also expressed sympathy with the families of the newborns following the tragedy.
The final inquiry is expected to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether equipment failure, inadequate safety arrangements, negligence or other factors contributed to the deaths.
