A fire erupted early Wednesday at a nursery for newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, killing 14 babies after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded inside the nursery. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m., and while one baby was rescued by a doctor, 13 others died on the spot and one later succumbed to injuries. Hospital officials have ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire and its spread. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that at least 14 children had died in the tragedy.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
14 newborn babies were killed in a fire that broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 26th. The fire started in an air-conditioning unit on the third floor of the mother and child ward, which was fueled by oxygen being administered to babies in incubators.
According to reports, there were at least 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire broke out, but only one baby was rescued. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that 14 babies had died, and said that the cause of the fire was a "blast in the air conditioner" that ignited a blaze.
The hospital's administration has launched an investigation into the incident, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate inquiry. President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences to the families of the victims, describing the deaths as "heartbreaking and an irreparable loss".
Witnesses reported that there was a long wait for rescue workers to arrive, and some parents said they were forced to smash through windows to try and get to their babies. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, with lawmakers demanding reforms in the country's health sector.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but initial reports suggest that it may have been caused by a technical fault or negligence on the part of hospital staff.
Written for “Fire in Pakistan Hospital” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 2487 · logged 2026-08-27
Fire in Pakistan hospital kills 14 newborns, officials order immediate inquiry
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officials → kill → inquiry
Compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside hospital nursery
A fire erupted early Wednesday in a nursery for newborns at a major government hospital in Pakistan's capital, killing 14 babies, according to hospital officials and the government.
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fire → explode → officials
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad housed at least 15 newborns in the nursery from the fire that began about 6:45 a.m. local time after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded inside the nursery on the third floor, hospital and rescue officials said.
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officials → house → floor
The fire was confined to the nursery in the gynecology ward, while the rest of the hospital remained unaffected and there were no other injuries reported, according to hospital officials and witnesses.
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rest → confine → officials
Television footage showed rescue workers using ladders to reach the area through broken windows.
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workers → show → windows
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed at least 14 children had died.
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children → confirm → ?
"One baby was rescued by a doctor," said Dr. Aneeza Jalil, a hospital spokesperson.
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Jalil → rescue → doctor
She said the bodies of six babies had been handed over to their families, while the remaining bodies would be released soon.
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bodies → say → families
The deaths of the children sent a wave of shock and grief across the country.
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deaths → send → country
Police were deployed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, some weeping while others called for accountability and demanded answers about how the fire began and whether the nursery had adequate firefighting equipment.
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nursery → deploy → equipment
Mohammad Sami said she gave birth three days earlier and her baby was receiving intensive care in the nursery when the fire erupted.
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fire → say → nursery
"I don't know what to say or whom to blame," she said through tears.
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she → know → tears
"I have lost my child."
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I → lose → child
'Irreparable loss'
Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the blaze and rescue teams began cooling operations at the site, local media reported.
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media → respond → site
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later said the fire had been extinguished and authorities were co-ordinating with the families.
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authorities → say → families
Within hours, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee with directions to submit a report within 24 hours.
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magistrate → appoint → hours
The panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread, determine whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the emergency response, a government notification said.
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notification → investigate → response
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the fire.
"A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," said Sharif, who ordered an immediate investigation.
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who → express → investigation
President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences to the families, describing the deaths as "heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.
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Zardari → offer → deaths
Zardari called for those responsible to be identified and dealt with under the law and urged hospitals to ensure effective fire-safety measures and emergency procedures, particularly in wards caring for newborns.
PIMS, one of Islamabad's largest public hospitals, which recently was the site of a medical examination of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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which → call → Khan
