Pakistani nursery explosion kills 14 infants in Islamabad
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad as families grappled with an unimaginable tragedy following a devastating explosion. A faulty air conditioning unit ignited this disaster in the hospital’s gynecology ward, claiming the lives of 14 newborns and leaving a profound impact on all those involved. This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community, as reported by the Associated Press.
Authorities confirmed that at least 14 infants perished in the ferocious blaze that engulfed the nursery early Wednesday morning. Despite these grim circumstances, a glimmer of hope emerged as hospital officials revealed that one baby was heroically rescued from the inferno.
The fire erupted at approximately 6:45 a.m., confined to the nursery area following the explosion of an air conditioning compressor, according to statements from hospital and rescue personnel. Fortunately, swift action ensured that the inferno did not spread to other hospital wards, containing the damage to the gynecology section.
Dr. Aneeza Jalil, the hospital’s spokesperson, disclosed that the precious life of one infant was saved by a courageous doctor amid the chaos. She further noted that six of the tiny victims’ bodies have been returned to heartbroken families while efforts continue to reunite the remaining families with their lost loved ones.
A poignant image captures the raw emotion of a grieving father being consoled by friends and family as his child’s small coffin is somberly carried out of the hospital, a stark reminder of the personal toll such tragedies exact on those left behind. (AP Photo/M.A. Sheik)
Video showed grieving families distraught with sorrow as investigators examined blasted out windows and authorities worked to secure the scene.
“I don’t know what to say or whom to blame,” a woman The Associated Press (AP) identified as Mrs. Mohammad Sami said.
“I have lost my child,” she told the outlet, just three days after she reportedly gave birth.
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Parents react after their child died in a hospital fire in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo)
The incident prompted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the country’s highest civil servant, from office.
Sharif ordered an immediate investigation.
“A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” he said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends a quadrilateral meeting between the U.S., Iran, Pakistan and Qatar at the Lake Lucerne Summit on June 21, 2026. (Nathan Howard-Pool/Getty Images)
Shortly after the incident, Sharif convened a high-level meeting in which he expressed anger at officials for the incident and removed Ghauri.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also weighed in, offering condolences to the families and saying the deaths amounted to a “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”