Fourteen newborn babies have died after a fire swept through the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
Pakistani authorities said the blaze broke out early Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Ward.
The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical fault linked to an air-conditioning unit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that all 14 victims were infants and ordered a full investigation into the tragedy.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as thick smoke filled the ward, forcing patients and relatives to scramble for safety.
Some witnesses alleged that security guards initially prevented people from leaving, forcing patients and families to break through doors and windows.
Khurram Mehmood, whose three-day-old daughter died, said his wife was eventually evacuated while the family waited outside for help.
“We were sitting on the road waiting for help,” he said.
Another witness, Jaweria, said the door to the neonatal intensive care unit was locked when the fire started.
Witness Abdul Ghafoor said some infants, including babies only a day old, were trapped inside as smoke spread through the ward.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf said the emergency call was received shortly before 7am and that rescue and police teams responded.
However, some witnesses claimed rescue efforts took nearly two hours to reach those trapped inside.
Outside the hospital, grieving families gathered as nurses read out the names of babies who had died.
Some survivors emerged from the building covered in soot, while relatives carried others to safety.
PIMS spokeswoman Aneeza Jalil confirmed that the fire was linked to an electrical fault involving the air-conditioning system.
Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences and called for a thorough investigation.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over fire safety in Pakistani hospitals and public buildings.
Families of the victims are now demanding answers over how an electrical fault could lead to the deaths of 14 newborns in a major public hospital.
