Tragic Maternity Ward Fire Kills 14 Newborns in Islamabad Hospital

A devastating fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 26, 2026, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 newborn babies. The blaze, which ranks among the nation's deadliest hospital fires in recent decades, started around 7:00 a.m. local time inside the maternity ward nursery.

According to rescue sources speaking to CNN, the fire appeared to have been triggered by an air conditioning compressor explosion within the nursery. Hospital workers managed to rescue only one child during the incident. A grieving father outside the hospital shared the immense sorrow of losing his three-day-old baby, stating, "No one can understand the pain I’m going through." Another visitor, Muneeba, described narrowly escaping the spreading flames with her nephew and sister-in-law, expressing relief that their baby remained safe. Multiple individuals at the scene reported encountering locked doors within the ward.

In response to the tragedy, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated from his office that he is deeply saddened and has ordered an immediate investigation, promising strict action against those responsible. Government-run healthcare facilities in Pakistan, including PIMS, often face criticism for being chronically underfunded, short-staffed, and burdened by aging infrastructure and a lack of emergency preparedness.

Sharmila Sahibah Faruqui, a member of Pakistan’s national assembly, took to X to condemn the incident as shameful and unforgivable, demanding direct accountability rather than another inquiry committee. While Islamabad generally hosts higher-standard facilities than other Pakistani cities, the country has experienced several major fires in recent years driven by outdated electrical systems, such as a Karachi shopping center blaze that killed at least 67 people earlier this year, and a 2022 fire at a children’s hospital in Lahore. CNN's Dhruv Tikekar contributed reporting to this story.