Islamabad, Aug 26: Fifteen newborns were burnt alive after an AC compressor exploded in a government hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. The incident took place on the third floor of the maternal and child health department of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a major hospital in Islamabad.
How did the incident happen?
The air conditioning (AC) compressor installed in the hospital’s newborn nursery ward exploded suddenly between 6:45 and 7:00 am on Wednesday. The intensity of the explosion engulfed the entire ward in thick smoke and flames. The main reason for this incident is said to be a short circuit or a technical fault in the old electrical system.
A total of 16 newborns were kept in the nursery ward at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, due to the rapid spread of the fire, the lady doctor on duty managed to bring only one child out safely. Accordingly, the remaining 15 infants were caught in the flames and died on the spot. Out of these, 14 children were completely burnt to death.
Furthermore, 6 fire engines and 4 ambulances that immediately rushed to the spot carried out a lengthy operation and brought the fire under control. In addition, the rescue personnel who broke the window panes of the ward and entered the building are currently carrying out the cooling process after completing the operation.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and shock over the tragedy and ordered an immediate investigation and report. Accordingly, a high-level inquiry committee headed by an Additional Deputy Commissioner has been formed to investigate the incident thoroughly.