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Hospital nursery fire kills 14 newborns in Pakistan's capital, officials order immediate inquiry
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- A fire broke out early Wednesday in the newborn nursery at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, resulting in the deaths of 14 babies, with at least one infant rescued.
- The fire was caused by an explosion of an air-conditioning unit compressor inside the nursery located in the gynecology ward, and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
- A multiagency fact-finding committee has been appointed to investigate the cause, fire-safety measures, and emergency response, with a report due within 24 hours.
- National leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and President Asif Ali Zardari, expressed sorrow and called for accountability and improved hospital fire safety.
- The tragedy has caused widespread grief, with families demanding answers and authorities prioritizing support for the affected parents and the release of the infants' bodies.
