Fourteen infants have died following a fire outbreak at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad, leaving grieving parents and relatives devastated.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Mother and Child Health (MCH) Ward of the hospital, one of the Pakistani capital’s major public healthcare facilities.
Authorities said the fire broke out on the third floor of the ward and was caused by a faulty air-conditioning unit.
The Islamabad district office confirmed the incident in a statement, saying emergency responders were deployed to the hospital after the fire was reported.
The deaths have triggered grief among families whose babies were receiving treatment at the facility, with parents reacting emotionally as they struggled to come to terms with the loss of their children.
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Images from the scene showed distressed parents and relatives gathered outside the MCH ward as the aftermath of the fire unfolded.
The incident has also raised concerns over safety standards and emergency preparedness at public hospitals, particularly facilities caring for vulnerable newborns.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, including the condition of the air-conditioning system and the hospital’s emergency response procedures.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences remains one of Islamabad’s key public hospitals, serving large numbers of patients from the capital and surrounding areas.
The tragedy comes as families mourn the 14 infants who lost their lives in the fire.
