Cause of PIMS nursery fire still unclear, says health committee chief

He added that the oxygen pipeline and other possible sources were also being examined as part of the investigation., information was obtained from hospital staff and nurses who were on duty at the time of the incident. However, none of them had witnessed the exact point where the fire started or how it broke out.

“Different accounts are emerging, but it cannot be conclusively said at this stage what caused the fire,” he said. Dr Kumar said oxygen remained an important factor under investigation because newborns in the nursery were continuously supplied with oxygen through a dedicated pipeline.

He said some people had reported seeing flames suddenly appearing at different locations, but investigators had yet to reach a definitive conclusion. The committee chairman said the hospital administration had also been questioned about CCTV footage and whether it could confirm that the fire started from the air conditioner.

However, the footage did not provide clear evidence to support that theory. Dr Kumar said the existing nursery was built in 1990, while a new block had recently been constructed at the hospital. He said doctors on the committee believed the new block would have been more suitable for a nursery housing critically ill newborns.

However, the new block was being used for the gynaecology ward while the newborns were kept in the older building. The committee will examine whether the decision to operate the nursery from the old building instead of the new block was appropriate, he said.

Dr Kumar said the committee would also review the findings of the inquiry committee formed on the prime minister’s instructions within 24 hours of the incident. He said a meeting of the Standing Committee on Health would be convened soon, where relevant officials would be asked to explain their decisions and actions.

Dr Kumar urged all committee members, including those belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), to attend the meeting, describing the matter as highly important. He said the committee included experienced doctors and other experts who would examine the incident on merit.

Once the investigation and committee proceedings are completed, a report will be prepared and submitted to the prime minister, identifying the cause of the incident and determining responsibility, he added.