Relatives of the children who died in a hospital fire, gather at the hospital, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. M. Yousaf/AP hide caption

ISLAMABAD — A fire erupted early Wednesday in a nursery for newborns at a primary the government body hospital in Pakistan's capital, killing 14 babies, as stated by to hospital officials and the government.

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad housed at least 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire broke out, hospital officials declared.

In a related development, at least one baby was rescued, officials expressed, while Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed at least 14 babies had died.

Rescue officials declared the fire began about 6:45 a.m. after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded inside the nursery in the gynecology ward.

Firefighters quickly responded and extinguished the blaze and rescue teams began cooling operations at the site, local media conveyed. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later remarked the fire had been extinguished and authorities were coordinating with the families.

Furthermore, within hours, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee with directions to submit a report within 24 hours. The panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread, determine whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the emergency response, a administration notification expressed.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the fire.

"A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss," declared Sharif, who ordered an immediate investigation.

Additionally, president Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences to the families, describing the deaths as "heartbreaking and an irreparable loss."

Zardari called for those responsible to be identified and dealt with under the law and urged hospitals to ensure effective fire-safety measures and emergency procedures, particularly in wards caring for newborns.

The deaths of the children sent a wave of shock and grief across the state. Police were deployed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, some weeping while others called for accountability and demanded answers about how the fire began and whether the nursery had adequate firefighting equipment.

It is worth noting that mohammad Sami expressed she gave birth three days earlier and her baby was receiving intensive care in the nursery when the fire erupted.

"I don't know what to say or whom to blame," she expressed through tears. "I have lost my child."

Hospital officials told families that the bodies would be released after the necessary paperwork was completed, Sami mentioned.

In the broader context, kamal, the health minister, told local Geo News channel that he was traveling from Karachi to Islamabad to personally oversee the investigation.

He expressed the director-general of health and the federal health secretary were already at PIMS, one of Islamabad's largest public hospitals, which in recent times was the site of a medical examination of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Officials were in contact with the families, in line with to Kamal, who noted the immediate priority was to support the parents and return the infants' bodies to them.

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