An initial report prepared by the admin of the PIMS said a fire in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit killed 15 newborn babies.
ISLAMABAD: First Lady Asifa Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of newborn babies in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
Asifa Bhutto Zardari extended her condolences to the bereaved families, saying the loss of innocent newborns was heartbreaking and deeply painful.
She prayed for strength and patience for the grieving families and expressed her wishes for the speedy recovery of those affected by the incident.
The first lady called for a complete, prompt and transparent investigation into the fire. She also stressed the need to improve hospital safety systems and take all necessary measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, an initial report prepared by the administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said a fire in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit killed 15 newborn babies after an oxygen-related device attached to an incubator ruptured and caught fire.
According to the preliminary findings, a nebulizer used to monitor oxygen levels near an incubator burst, causing the oxygen to ignite. The fire initially remained small but spread rapidly, the report said.
The report said the fire generated smoke that entered the infants’ respiratory systems through the oxygen pipes. The babies died from a combination of oxygen disruption and burn injuries, according to the findings.
The fire broke out at about 6:45 a.m. in the nursery of the gynecology ward, according to rescue officials. Hospital authorities said 16 newborns were inside the nursery when the fire started. One child was rescued, while 15 others died.
More read, PIMS nursery fire kills 15 newborns after AC compressor explodes
The hospital administration has prepared the initial report, while further investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire and the safety measures in place at the nursery.
