Only one of the 15 babies inside the ward was rescued.
Witnesses of the hospital fire in Islamabad, where 14 babies died, have raised concerns about locked doors and delayed rescue efforts.
The blaze started shortly after dawn on August 26, 2026, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
The fire reportedly began in an air-conditioning unit on the third floor of the hospital’s mother and child unit.
Only one of the 15 babies inside the ward was rescued.
Witnesses have described chaotic scenes as parents and patients tried to escape the building while thick smoke spread through the ward.
Hivsa Walid was at the hospital with her sister-in-law, who had recently given birth.
She said she heard someone shouting before noticing smoke coming from the building.
Walid managed to grab the newborn and flee downstairs.
She said patients were forced to leave behind their belongings as they rushed to safety.
Witnesses have also raised concerns about the hospital’s evacuation arrangements.
Jaweria, whose baby died in the fire, said the maternity ward door was locked and claimed she waited for hours while crying for help.
She also questioned why hospital staff had left newborn babies inside the ward during the fire.
However, Rana Imran Sikander, the hospital’s executive director, denied that the door was locked.
He said the entrance was manned because the hospital had previously experienced incidents involving babies being stolen.
According to Sikander, other doors were kept closed because hospital staff were concerned about visitors entering the ward.
Other witnesses have claimed that several doors were closed or inaccessible during the emergency.
One person claimed people had to break down a door to reach those trapped inside.
Rescue workers reportedly smashed windows as they attempted to control the flames and reach patients.
Abdul Ghafoor, who tried to enter the building, said thick black smoke made it difficult to reach the maternity ward.
He claimed rescue teams arrived almost two hours after the fire began.
However, Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf said rescue teams arrived immediately after receiving the emergency call.
The conflicting accounts are likely to form part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
PIMS is one of Islamabad’s largest government hospitals.
Its maternal and child health unit has 156 beds.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety standards in Pakistan’s hospitals and other public buildings.
Pakistan has experienced several major fires in recent years, with poor safety measures and weak enforcement often blamed for high death tolls.
Earlier this year, a fire at a shopping mall in Karachi killed dozens of people.
Survivors of that incident also raised concerns about locked exits and difficulties escaping the building.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his “deep sorrow and heartfelt regret” following the deaths.
He ordered an immediate investigation into the hospital fire.
Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri has also been suspended.
