At least 14 babies at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences died in a nursery fire Wednesday, while one infant was rescued, according to hospital officials.
The blaze at the major government hospital in the capital Islamabad broke out at about 6:45 a.m. after an air conditioning unit compressor exploded, hospital and rescue officials said. The fire was contained to the nursery in the hospital’s gynecology ward and did not affect any other hospital wards.
“One baby was rescued by a doctor,” hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil said, adding that six of the deceased infants’ bodies had been given over to families, while the remaining bodies would be given over soon.
Video showed grieving families distraught with sorrow as investigators examined blasted out windows and authorities worked to secure the scene.
“I don’t know what to say or whom to blame,” a woman The Associated Press (AP) identified as Mrs. Mohammad Sami said.
“I have lost my child,” she told the outlet, just three days after she reportedly gave birth.
The incident prompted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the country’s highest civil servant, from office.
Sharif ordered an immediate investigation.
“A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” he said.
Shortly after the incident, Sharif convened a high-level meeting in which he expressed anger at officials for the incident and removed Ghauri.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also weighed in, offering condolences to the families and saying the deaths amounted to a “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
