Fire at Pakistan's largest state hospital kills 15 newborns

A major fire disaster struck Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the country's largest government hospital, in the capital city of Islamabad on Wednesday, claiming the lives of 15 newborn babies. The incident occurred in the early morning hours in the neonatal ward, sending shockwaves through the medical facility and the nation.

According to hospital officials, the fire erupted when an air conditioning compressor in the gynecology ward suddenly burst into flames. The rapid spread of the blaze through the adjacent newborn baby ward left emergency responders with limited time to evacuate patients from the affected area.

The incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols and equipment maintenance standards at one of Pakistan's premier medical institutions. Hospital authorities have launched an initial investigation into the cause of the compressor failure and the factors that contributed to the rapid escalation of the fire.

The tragedy has prompted immediate calls for a comprehensive safety audit of PIMS and other major healthcare facilities across Pakistan. Health ministry officials announced that they would review fire safety measures and emergency response procedures at government hospitals nationwide.

Families of the deceased infants have been offered condolences and support by hospital administration as the investigation into the incident continues.