Fire at Islamabad Hospital Kills 14 Newborns

A tragic fire broke out in the mother and child health unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 26 August 2026. According to verified reports from international news agencies including Reuters, AFP, and BBC, the deadly blaze resulted in the deaths of 14 newborns. The incident occurred in the maternal ward of the hospital, causing widespread grief and outrage among the families affected by the disaster.

Investigations confirmed that the fire originated from an air-conditioning unit located on the third floor of the mother and child health unit, which has a total capacity of 156 beds. At the time of the incident, there were 15 newborns inside the affected room. Amidst the heavy smoke and panic, rescue teams and police arrived roughly two hours later, and tragically, only a single infant from the room was successfully saved from the flames.

Devastated parents shared harrowing accounts of the disaster and the chaotic aftermath. Hibsa Waleed, who managed to escape with her child, recounted the terrifying moments, stating, “We didn't even think about our belongings. We just picked up the baby and ran downstairs.” She added, “Some patients had given birth just that night. I don't even know how we managed to come down. Everything felt like a trance.” Waleed also noted the lack of immediate safety response, stating, “There were supposed to be fire extinguishers and specific safety protocols there. But no one was doing anything. Everyone was just running for their lives.”

Other grieving parents expressed deep anguish and anger over the delayed emergency response and hospital conditions. Khurram Mehmood, a 40-year-old father, wept for his lost child, saying, “I lost my daughter. She was only three days old.” Another parent, Jaweria, described the agonizing wait, sharing, “I was just crying and screaming for two hours. The police came after four hours and said they had come to investigate.” Jaweria further questioned accountability, asking, “Why did the doctors leave the children there?” and condemning the authorities by shouting, “Down with the rescue teams and the police! The children burned to death there, but no one could save them.” An anonymous bereaved father also alleged operational negligence, stating, “All the doors used to remain locked. Only one door was left open to see the children. They kept the other doors locked out of fear that we would repeatedly come to see the children.” Abdul Ghafoor added to the grim details, noting, “There was only thick black smoke inside and the patients were trapped. The rescue team reached there after about two hours.”

In the wake of the catastrophe, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement declaring, “The incident that happened with the children is an absolutely irreparable loss.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and ordered a thorough investigation into the causes of the fire. Additionally, accountability measures were swiftly implemented by the government, leading to the immediate dismissal of top health department official and central health secretary Aslam Ghouris.