Summary
- PIMS fire inquiry finds electrical fault in neonatal nursery AC unit was the most likely cause, with no evidence of sabotage or IESCO fault.
- Report confirms no oxygen leakage or criminal negligence by staff, and notes frontline response was prompt during the incident.
- Committee highlights major safety lapses including lack of smoke alarms, overcapacity in nursery, and ignored previous fire safety warnings.
An inquiry committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to investigate the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has determined that an electrical fault was the most likely cause of the blaze.
According to the inquiry report, the fire in the hospital’s neonatal nursery most likely originated from an electrical problem involving the power supply cable of AC unit No. 2. The committee found no evidence of sabotage or any fault originating from the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).
The investigation also found no evidence that oxygen leakage or an incubator caused the fire. The report said frontline staff responded promptly during the initial moments of the incident and that no individual was found to have committed a criminal offence.
However, the committee identified serious shortcomings in the hospital’s safety arrangements. It found that the nursery did not have an effective automated smoke detection and alarm system.
The report noted that a fire at the nursing hostel on July 6 had also exposed safety deficiencies, but previous fire safety warnings were not properly implemented.
At the time of the incident, 15 newborn babies were receiving treatment in the nursery, despite the unit having a capacity of only 10 beds. Fourteen of the newborns died in the incident.
The inquiry concluded that the deaths were not attributable to a failure of a single neonatal safety system. Instead, multiple weaknesses in the nursery’s safety and emergency arrangements contributed to the tragedy.
The committee recommended further investigation into the electrical installations, emergency evacuation routes and previous safety warnings. It also called for immediate fire safety, life-safety and electrical audits across PIMS.
The inquiry committee has called for urgent measures to strengthen fire protection and emergency preparedness at PIMS following the nursery tragedy.
It recommended dedicated emergency evacuation procedures for newborn babies and the immediate activation of effective fire detection, alarm and emergency exit systems to prevent a similar incident in the future.
