Images released recorded the devastating fire that hit the maternity ward of one of Pakistan’s largest medical centers, resulting in the loss of 14 newborns on August 26, 2026, in the city of Islamabad. Videos captured the intense smoke and flames engulfing the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as rescuers worked there.
Pakistani government dismisses health secretary after incident
Preliminary investigations by the hospital itself indicate that the flames started in air conditioning equipment and spread quickly throughout the ward. The presence of oxygen connections, common in hospital environments, is pointed out as a factor that intensified the spread of the fire. At the time of the tragedy, 15 newborns were in the maternity ward, many of them in incubators or dependent on oxygen equipment; only one managed to be saved.
Recordings made inside the medical unit attest to the vast scale of the fire. After the fire was extinguished, photos of the scene showed shattered windows and considerable damage. Meanwhile, outside the hospital, relatives gathered, seeking news about the fate of the babies.
Individuals who witnessed the scene described a situation of widespread panic and mentioned that the intense smoke made access to the maternity ward almost impossible. Abdul Ghafoor, a witness, said he tried to enter the hospital to assist in the rescue.
“There was very thick black smoke inside and the patients were trapped,” narrated Ghafoor, describing the chaotic scene.
Khurram Mehmood, father of a three-day-old baby who didn’t survive, expressed strong criticism of the emergency management, stating that many family members waited for help. Contradicting these reports, Sohail Ashraf, Islamabad police chief, assured that agents and rescue teams arrived “immediately” after the initial call.
The tragedy also sparked discussions about the infrastructure and safety of the hospital unit. A father who lost his son said that the building did not have an effective fire prevention and fighting system, nor adequate escape routes. Furthermore, information emerged that the doors to the maternity ward were blocked at the time of the incident.
Rana Imran Sikander, executive director of PIMS, refuted the claim that the ward door was locked. He explained that an employee was on site to control access, a security measure implemented to prevent newborn abductions.
Islamabad authorities formed a commission in charge of determining the precise origin of the fire, examining the condition of safety and prevention systems, evaluating the adequacy of emergency exits and the response time of rescue teams. The group’s conclusive report has a deadline of 24 hours to be delivered.
According to a government statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after the incident, removed Aslam Ghauri, the Federal Secretary of Health, from his duties. The Prime Minister expressed “deep anger” in an emergency meeting focused on the situation.
