Preliminary PIMS Fire Inquiry Report Finds Negligence by Officials and Staff

ISLAMABAD: The preliminary report of the inquiry committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been prepared, with the findings pointing to negligence by officials and staff of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in connection with the tragic fire incident.

The report includes statements recorded from hospital officials and staff, while the committee also examined the timeline of the fire being reported and the arrival of the fire brigade at the hospital.

According to the preliminary findings, the rescue team faced several obstacles while attempting to reach the affected area. Doors were found locked, technical staff was not available and adequate firefighting equipment was also lacking.

The rescue team reportedly had to break through walls to gain access to the affected area and carry out the rescue operation.

The inquiry committee also found that hospital staff had not received adequate training to respond effectively to emergency situations.

The 48-hour period initially given to the prime minister’s inquiry committee is ending today, while the committee is expected to submit its detailed report within five days.

Earlier, the committee recorded statements from more than 30 hospital employees, including the executive director, joint executive director, doctors and nurses. Statements from more than 18 security guards deployed at the children’s ward were also recorded.

The committee also examined the biometric attendance records of staff members who were on duty when the fire broke out.

Fire brigade personnel involved in the firefighting operation, the Director General of Emergency and Disaster Management and the Director of Fire Brigade also recorded their statements before the committee.

The committee further examined the response timeline of the rescue teams to determine whether there were delays or shortcomings during the emergency operation.

Meanwhile, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has again written to the relevant authorities regarding fire safety arrangements at PIMS. A petition seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the PIMS tragedy has also been filed before the Islamabad High Court.

Alongside the prime minister’s inquiry committee, the PIMS administration has constituted a separate committee to investigate the incident.

The committee earlier took custody of CCTV footage from the hospital’s nursery, recorded statements from PIMS staff and reviewed reports prepared by the fire brigade and emergency department.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health also reviewed the PIMS tragedy and demanded the suspension of doctors and staff members who were on duty at the time of the incident. The committee also called for the resignation of Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahesh Kumar visited the hospital and questioned the conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the fire.

He pointed out that it was initially stated that the fire had started from an air conditioner, but it was later revealed that the AC was not operational at the time of the incident.

Dr Mahesh Kumar questioned the explanation and remarked that it appeared as though the nurses had been brought together and instructed to repeat the same version of events.