14 newborns killed in fire at hospital in Pakistan’s capital
Baku, August 26, AZERTAC
At least 14 newborns died Wednesday after a fire broke out in a nursery at a major government hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, Anadolu Agency reported, citing local officials.
The blaze erupted at around 7 am local time (0200GMT) on the third floor of the Maternal and Child Health Ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where 15 babies were being treated.
The Islamabad administration initially said the fire was brought under control shortly after it broke out and that 14 severely burned babies were transferred to an intensive care unit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office later confirmed the deaths.
Hospital spokeswoman Dr. Aneeza Jalil said the fire appeared to have been caused by a short circuit, according to the daily Dawn.
Other local media reports said a malfunction in the hospital’s air-conditioning system may have triggered the blaze.
Sharif later chaired an emergency meeting and suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his position, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. He also formed a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
“Such a situation involving children is irreparable. The causes of the incident should be thoroughly examined, those responsible should be identified, and the strictest possible action should be taken,” he said.
The Islamabad administration also formed an inquiry committee headed by the additional deputy commissioner general to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.
The committee will examine whether negligence or failures in the hospital’s safety systems contributed to the deaths and identify those responsible.
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