PIMS inferno: CCTV secured, inquiry launched

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said the initial rescue operation following the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has been completed.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Chaudhry said the bodies of all the deceased newborns had been handed over to their families.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special inquiry team to investigate the tragedy. The team will examine the cause of the fire and determine whether any negligence or failure contributed to the deaths.

According to Chaudhry, the initial report on the incident has already been submitted to the prime minister and the interior minister.

He said the rescue team reached PIMS within six minutes of receiving information about the fire.

The minister said administrative officials were present at the hospital immediately after the rescue operation. He added that every aspect of the incident would be examined during the inquiry.

“If anyone was negligent, it will come to light through the investigation,” Chaudhry said.

He said authorities had secured all available evidence. This includes CCTV footage from the hospital.

The investigation will also determine how many doctors, nurses and other staff members were present in the nursery when the fire broke out.

The minister said the inquiry would help establish what happened inside the nursery during the emergency. It would also assess the response of hospital staff and rescue teams.

The deadly fire broke out in the PIMS nursery early Wednesday morning. The nursery had 16 newborn babies at the time of the incident.

According to PIMS authorities, 15 infants died in the fire. One baby was rescued and survived.

The incident has caused widespread grief among the families of the deceased children. It has also raised questions about safety arrangements and emergency procedures at the hospital.

Officials are now examining the circumstances surrounding the fire. They are also reviewing the hospital’s firefighting arrangements and emergency response.

Authorities have assured that evidence will be examined before responsibility is determined. Any official or staff member found responsible for negligence is expected to face action.