14 children died in a fire in the gynecological ward of Pims?
ISLAMABAD — The Pimms nursery tragedy has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, with initial investigations pointing to the explosion of a nebulizer attached to an incubator as the trigger for the deadly fire that killed 15 infants.
Initial findings contradicted earlier accounts of the incident. While rescue officials said the fire broke out at 6:45 am after the compressor of the air conditioner exploded, an initial report by the hospital administration ruled out both an explosion of the AC compressor and an electrical short circuit.
According to the report, a nebulizer attached to the incubator exploded, burning the oxygen supply almost instantly. Although the fire was initially contained, the presence of oxygen reportedly allowed the flames to spread rapidly through the nursery.
The situation became more deadly as thick smoke engulfed the nursery. Smoke entered the infants’ respiratory systems through the piping system, while interruption of oxygen supply during the emergency was identified as another major factor behind the deaths, investigators said.
There were 16 newborn babies inside the nursery at the time of the fire. Despite rescue efforts, only one child survived, while 15 infants lost their lives in the devastating incident. The tragedy has sparked a strong response from the government, with Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori suspended following the deaths.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also ordered a high-level inquiry headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan to determine exactly what went wrong and who is responsible.
Pimms Safety’s claims are under investigation.
The tragedy also exposed conflicting accounts of the Pims’ emergency preparedness. PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikander said that the hospital has a proper fire safety system and the staff tried their best to save the newborn.
However, the CDA fire brigade report has raised serious questions on the hospital’s fire safety arrangements, adding another layer of concern to the already disastrous incident.
With preliminary investigations now pointing to an oxygen-related ignition rather than an electrical fault or an AC compressor explosion, questions are being raised about the state of the nursery’s equipment, oxygen system and emergency response procedures—and whether the deaths of the 15 infants could have been prevented.
The post What caused the death of 14 children due to a fire in Pims’ Gynecology Ward? appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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