ISLAMABAD: An initial investigation report into the tragic incident at the nursery of the Gynecology Ward at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad has been prepared, revealing key findings about the cause of the fire.
According to the preliminary report, the incident was not caused by an air-conditioner compressor explosion or an electrical short circuit. Instead, the fire broke out after a nebulizer connected to an incubator, used to measure the amount of oxygen, exploded.
The report said that the explosion of the nebulizer near the incubator caused the oxygen to catch fire immediately. Although the intensity of the fire was initially low, the presence of oxygen caused it to spread rapidly.
According to the report, the fire generated heavy smoke inside the nursery, which entered the respiratory systems of the infants through the pipes. The disruption of oxygen supply during the incident was also identified as a major cause of the newborns’ deaths.
The federal government had taken strict measures following the PIMS tragedy. Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori has been suspended from his post, while a high-level committee headed by former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan is investigating the incident on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, conflicting claims have emerged between the CDA Fire Brigade report and statements by PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar. The PIMS executive director said the hospital had a satisfactory fire safety system and that staff made every effort to save the babies. However, the CDA report pointed to inadequate fire safety arrangements.
Following the release of the preliminary report, the administration and investigation teams are now examining further technical aspects of the incident.
