At least 14 newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out in the Maternal and Child Health ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Hospital officials and Pakistan's health minister confirmed that 14 infants died, while one baby was rescued from the nursery.
The blaze broke out at around 6:45 AM local time on the third floor of the hospital's mother and child health ward. Officials said an air-conditioning unit was involved in the incident, while oxygen equipment in the neonatal ward may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. A formal investigation has been ordered to establish the exact cause and determine whether fire-safety standards were followed.
Fire Breaks Out At PIMS
The fire erupted in the neonatal section of PIMS, one of Islamabad's major public hospitals. Officials said 15 newborns were in the affected nursery, with one baby subsequently rescued by a doctor. The confirmed official death toll is 14.
Emergency teams deployed fire engines and ambulances to the hospital. The Islamabad administration said the fire was brought under control and rescue operations were conducted in the affected ward.
The incident triggered panic among families whose newborn children were receiving intensive care.
AC Unit Under Investigation
Pakistan's Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire followed a blast involving an air-conditioning unit inside the ward. He also said the presence of oxygen in the nursery contributed to the intensity of the blaze.
An initial PIMS report later indicated that an oxygen-related component near an incubator may have exploded and that oxygen and smoke entered the infants' breathing systems. The report also referred to video footage showing flames emerging from an air conditioner. These are preliminary findings and remain subject to the government's investigation.
Rescue Teams Reach Hospital
According to Pakistan's Associated Press of Pakistan, the fire call was received at 6:54 AM, with fire and rescue teams reaching the hospital within seven minutes. Six fire brigade units and four ambulances were deployed.
However, some eyewitnesses interviewed by local media disputed the response time and alleged delays in reaching the nursery. Authorities have said the inquiry will examine the emergency response, staffing and fire-safety arrangements.
The investigation will therefore be important in establishing the sequence of events and determining whether any negligence contributed to the deaths.
PM Orders Immediate Probe
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and ordered an immediate investigation. He called for those responsible to be identified and strict action to be taken if wrongdoing or negligence is established.
Sharif also ordered the suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri following the tragedy. A high-level inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan was constituted to investigate the incident.
A separate fact-finding committee formed by the Islamabad administration has also been tasked with determining the cause of the fire and examining whether adequate fire-safety measures were available and functional.
Families Demand Answers
The deaths sparked grief and anger among parents and relatives gathered outside the hospital. Some families questioned the ward's emergency arrangements and alleged that doors were locked or that access to the nursery was difficult during the fire.
Authorities have said the investigation will examine issues including CCTV footage, fire-safety equipment, the presence of medical staff, access to the affected ward and the response of emergency services.
The findings are expected to determine whether institutional or individual responsibility contributed to the tragedy.
Safety Questions Raised
The PIMS fire has renewed concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in Pakistan's public healthcare facilities.
The hospital administration and government authorities are now facing questions over the condition of the affected ward, emergency exits, firefighting infrastructure and procedures for evacuating critically ill newborns.
The Pakistan Medical Association has also called for stronger enforcement of safety standards and accountability where failures are established.
Investigation To Determine Cause
The official death toll currently stands at 14 newborns, based on statements from PIMS officials and Pakistani authorities. Some media reports have carried conflicting figures, including 15 deaths, but the confirmed figure cited by Reuters, AP, Dawn and Pakistan's official APP is 14.
The final investigation will determine the exact cause of the blaze, whether fire-safety requirements were met and whether any negligence contributed to the deaths.
For now, the Islamabad hospital fire remains one of Pakistan's most devastating recent tragedies involving newborn children, with authorities under pressure to establish accountability and prevent a repeat.
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