Arif Rana Recalls Rescue Efforts as Fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Kills 14 Newborns
A fire caused by a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit killed 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The blaze broke out on the third floor of the mother and child health ward, where 16 infants were present at the time of the incident. Only one newborn was successfully rescued from the nursery. Arif Rana, a relative of one of the survivors, described the chaotic scene as smoke filled the corridors and temperatures rose. While witnesses reported a lack of staff presence during the initial moments of the fire, hospital administration provided a different account, stating that several doctors and nurses were on duty. The fire occurred in the older wing of the hospital, where renovation work had been ongoing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the fire. Two separate inquiry committees have been formed to determine the cause of the tragedy and identify those responsible for the strictest action.