Fire at Pakistani hospital nursery results in 14 newborn fatalities

A fire erupted early Wednesday at a nursery for newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, resulting in the deaths of 14 babies, according to hospital officials and the government. The nursery housed at least 15 newborns when the fire broke out. Rescue officials reported that the fire began at approximately 6:45 a.m., likely due to an explosion of an air-conditioning unit's compressor inside the nursery, which is part of the hospital's gynecology ward. Firefighters responded promptly and extinguished the fire, while rescue teams conducted cooling operations at the scene. A hospital spokesperson did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences over the incident and ordered an immediate investigation. A statement from his office confirmed the death toll of 14 newborns, with Sharif stating, "A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss."