15 newborns killed in fire at Islamabad hospital’s gynaecology ward in Pakistan

The fire reportedly started after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery, according to rescue sources.

15 newborns died after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on Wednesday.According to PIMS officials, the nursery housed 16 newborns when the fire broke out, with only one baby rescued from the ward, reported local outlet Geo News. The fire reportedly started after an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery, according to rescue officials.The blaze broke out at around 7 am in the gynaecology ward of the hospital, which is located in Pakistan’s federal capital. Rescue teams were deployed to the hospital and worked to extinguish the fire and evacuate those inside while carrying out cooling operations at the site.The incident has raised concerns over safety measures in the hospital’s neonatal and maternity facilities.