A devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 14 infants, with witnesses reporting that a locked ward door significantly delayed rescue efforts. The blaze, which erupted shortly after dawn on a Wednesday morning in the hospital’s mother and child unit, trapped newborns and their parents as smoke filled the third-floor facility. Only one of the 15 babies present in the ward at the time of the incident was saved.
Witness Accounts of Fire and Delayed Response
Survivors described a chaotic scene as the fire, believed to have originated in an air-conditioning unit, rapidly spread. Hivsa Walid, who was at the ward with her sister-in-law who had recently given birth, recounted hearing an initial cry that she mistook for a patient’s death before realizing smoke was engulfing the area. “We didn’t even think about our belongings. We just grabbed the baby and rushed downstairs,” Walid stated, describing the escape as a blur. “Some patients had delivered their babies just that night. I don’t even know how we managed to get down – it was all a blur.”
The harrowing experience was echoed by Khurram Mehmood, 40, who lost his three-day-old daughter in the tragedy. He told news outlets that there was a considerable wait for emergency services. Jaweria, the mother of another infant victim, expressed her anguish and disbelief, stating that the maternity ward door was locked. “For two hours I kept crying and wailing,” she recounted. “Police arrived after four hours and said they are here to investigate.” She questioned the actions of the hospital staff, asking, “Why did the doctors leave the children there? To hell with you, rescue team and police. Babies burnt to death there, but nobody could save them.”
Other witnesses corroborated the accounts of a delayed response and inadequate safety measures. One father, who had been visiting the ward for eight days, told Reuters that the building lacked proper fire security and emergency exits. He claimed that while one door was designated for visitors, others were kept locked, purportedly to prevent unauthorized access or frequent visits by concerned parents. This sentiment was shared by others who suggested that duty staff were not readily available during the emergency, forcing individuals to attempt to break down doors and prompting rescue teams to smash windows to gain entry and combat the flames. Abdul Ghafoor, another witness, described being unable to reach the maternity ward due to thick black smoke and trapped patients, noting that rescue teams took nearly two hours to arrive.
Hospital and Official Statements
Rana Imran Sikander, the executive director of PIMS hospital, provided a different perspective, asserting that the ward door was not locked but was attended by staff. He explained that the security measure was in place to prevent infant abduction, an issue that has reportedly occurred at other government hospitals in the past. In contrast to some witness accounts, Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf stated, according to news reports, that rescue teams arrived at the scene promptly after the emergency call was made.
Context of Hospital Fires in Pakistan
The PIMS hospital is a significant healthcare facility in Pakistan’s capital, with its maternal and child health unit comprising 156 beds. This tragic incident brings to light broader concerns about fire safety in Pakistan. The country has experienced several major fires in recent years, with inadequate safety regulations, building codes, and poor enforcement frequently cited as contributing factors to high casualty rates. A similar incident earlier in the year at a shopping mall in Karachi, which resulted in numerous fatalities, also saw reports of locked exits hindering escape, underscoring a recurring pattern of safety lapses.
Government Response and Investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed profound sorrow and regret over the loss of life. In response to the PIMS fire, he has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. Furthermore, Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, a senior official within the health department, has been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office emphasized the irreparable nature of such a tragedy involving children and pledged to address the systemic issues that may have contributed to the disaster.
Conclusion
The fire at PIMS hospital has not only resulted in the tragic loss of 14 infant lives but has also ignited critical questions about emergency preparedness, building safety standards, and the efficacy of security protocols in major public institutions in Pakistan. As investigations proceed, the focus will likely be on understanding the sequence of events, verifying witness accounts, and implementing measures to prevent such a catastrophe from recurring.
