PIMS hospital fire: Videos of faulty ACs and exposed wires raise fresh safety concerns

Videos showing faulty air conditioners and exposed electrical wires have surfaced from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) raising fresh concerns about electrical safety at the hospital following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire.

ISLAMABAD: Videos showing faulty air conditioners and exposed electrical wires have surfaced from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) raising fresh concerns about electrical safety at the hospital following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire.

The footage shows damaged air-conditioning units placed outside the affected ward. Several air conditioners can also be seen with exposed or disconnected wires, highlighting potentially serious electrical safety issues within the hospital.

According to sources among the PIMS hospital staff, some of the air conditioners reportedly spark at different times. The sources further said that maintenance and repair work for the air-conditioning units has been outsourced to a private company.

The emergence of the videos has raised questions about the condition and maintenance of electrical equipment at the hospital, particularly in the wake of the recent fire tragedy.

Fourteen newborn babies died after a fire broke out at the gynecology ward of PIMS Hospital. The grieving parents have demanded DNA tests to identify their children and called for action against those responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile a committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun investigating the tragedy. The committee has sought written statements from staff members working in the nursery of the Children’s Hospital and taken custody of CCTV footage from the area.

Sources said the committee reviewed the CCTV footage and compared it with the hospital administration’s account of the fire’s cause. Members of the PIMS health management team were also questioned as part of the investigation.

The PIMS administration submitted the duty roster of staff members who were on duty on August 26, while the fire brigade and emergency department also submitted their respective reports.

Four officials including the Joint Executive Director of PIMS have submitted written statements to the investigation committee.

The committee is expected to submit an interim investigation report to the prime minister within 48 hours.

The newly surfaced footage of faulty air conditioners and exposed wires is likely to add to questions surrounding fire prevention, electrical maintenance and overall safety arrangements at PIMS as authorities continue investigating the deaths of the newborns.