PIMS Nursery Tragedy: Eyewitnesses Reveal Harrowing Details of Deadly Fire
ISLAMABAD: A devastating fire that erupted in the nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has raised serious questions over emergency response, fire-safety arrangements and the actions of hospital staff during the incident.
The fire broke out early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Health ward, where several newborn babies were receiving care. Hospital officials said 16 newborns were present in the nursery when the blaze erupted, with only one baby surviving while the others tragically lost their lives.
The surviving newborn was later shifted to Polyclinic Hospital for further medical care. According to the baby’s aunt, she was present at the hospital when the fire broke out and immediately rushed toward the nursery after learning that the infant was inside.
The woman said she entered the affected area to rescue her niece and managed to bring the baby out herself. She alleged that a female doctor initially stopped her and that there was no effective medical staff presence inside the nursery when she entered. She also claimed that she suffered minor burns while attempting to rescue the newborn.
The baby’s aunt further alleged that essential fire-safety equipment and emergency arrangements were inadequate. According to her account, the situation inside the nursery was chaotic, while hospital personnel were allegedly focused on escaping the area.
Another eyewitness, Muniba, said she had been staying at PIMS for two days with her sister-in-law when the fire suddenly broke out. Recalling the incident, she alleged that hospital staff left the affected area without properly informing the families of the newborns.
Muniba claimed that by the time she reached the location, the fire had already spread across a large portion of the nursery. She further alleged that hospital staff and security guards prevented people from leaving the area, allegedly fearing that news of the incident would spread.
According to the eyewitness, the lack of timely assistance and confusion during the emergency made the situation even more dangerous. She alleged that several newborns became trapped inside the nursery as the fire spread, resulting in a devastating loss of life.
The eyewitness accounts have intensified concerns over the hospital’s preparedness to deal with emergencies, particularly in sensitive areas such as neonatal wards where patients are unable to evacuate independently.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire, assess the emergency response and identify any negligence or violations of safety protocols. The findings of the inquiry will be crucial in determining responsibility and establishing whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
The PIMS nursery fire has also highlighted the urgent need for strict fire-safety inspections, functional emergency exits, readily available firefighting equipment and proper evacuation plans in hospitals across the country.
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