Fire at Islamabad hospital maternity ward leaves 14 infants dead

A tragic fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Wing at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad on the morning of August 26, 2026. While some local media reports suggested as many as 15 newborns had perished, the Islamabad district administration officially confirmed the deaths of 14 infants. According to hospital officials, the blaze was triggered by an electrical fault within the air conditioning system of the nursery.

Out of the 16 infants present in the ward at the time of the fire, only one was reported saved by medical staff. The incident has caused significant public outcry across the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued statements expressing their deep condolences, characterizing the loss as an irreparable tragedy. The Prime Minister has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the fire and instructed authorities to identify any negligence that may have contributed to the disaster. As the rescue and cooling operations concluded, authorities and forensic teams began working to secure the site and determine the full extent of the electrical failure.