Fire at Pakistan Hospital Nursery Results in Tragic Loss of Newborn Lives

A fire erupted at a nursery within the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a prominent government hospital in Islamabad, leading to the loss of 14 newborns. Authorities confirmed the nursery housed 15 newborns when the incident occurred, with only one infant rescued.

According to rescue officials, the blaze began around 6:45 a.m., allegedly due to a compressor explosion in an air-conditioning unit inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital’s gynecology ward. Firefighters swiftly attended to the scene and extinguished the flames, while cooling operations were conducted by rescue teams afterward as reported by local media.

A mother reacts after the death of her child following a fire outside the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad on August 26, 2026.

A hospital spokesperson did not immediately provide comments when contacted by The Associated Press. Security measures have been enhanced at the site following the incident.

Security personnel stand guard following a fire at the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad on August 26, 2026.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, ordering an urgent investigation into the matter. His statement confirmed the deaths of 14 newborns and emphasized the urgency of reviewing the incident’s circumstances to identify those responsible. He called for stringent measures against those found culpable.

A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss, Sharif lamented, underscoring the need for accountability as reported by the AFP.