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Witnesses say rescue was delayed as blaze killed 14 babies
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- A fire broke out early Wednesday morning in the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, killing 14 infants and leaving only one baby alive among the 15 present.
- Witnesses and parents reported that the door to the ward was locked or inaccessible, delaying rescue efforts, with some stating that rescue teams arrived hours after the fire started.
- Hospital officials claimed the door was manned and locked to prevent baby theft, but eyewitnesses criticized the hospital's safety protocols, citing lack of fire extinguishers and proper exits.
- Rescue teams had to break down doors and smash windows to control the blaze, and some staff were reportedly absent during the emergency, exacerbating the tragedy.
- Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered an immediate investigation; the fire highlights ongoing issues with safety enforcement in Pakistan's public buildings.
