A deadly fire at a nursery for newborns inside Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad killed 14 babies early Wednesday, hospital officials and the government said. The blaze struck the neonatal unit at the government hospital, which housed at least 15 newborns at the time.
Officials announced an immediate inquiry into the incident as investigators begin to determine the cause and assess safety protocols at the facility. Authorities did not release a casualty breakdown beyond the fourteen infant deaths, and no further details on possible victims or injuries were provided in the initial statements.
Police and hospital staff were seen at the scene, with responders and family members gathered outside the hospital premises as the incident unfolded. The fire’s timing and the full scope of damage are not described beyond the neonatal unit being affected.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences is a major government medical facility in the capital, Islamabad. The incident marks a tragic event during a period when authorities are reviewing safety and emergency response measures at key healthcare institutions.
No information was provided on whether there were any injuries among staff or adults, or on the status of the hospital’s operations following the fire. Further updates from officials are expected as the investigation proceeds and more details become available.
