World News
Pakistani nurse honored after saving newborn from fatal Islamabad hospital fire
A government inquiry cited major safety lapses in the nursery blaze that killed 14 infants, prompting suspensions and a national award for the surviving baby's rescuer.
The short version
- Nurse Razia Noreen rescued one newborn from an Aug. 26 fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, leaving 14 other infants dead.
- A government investigation identified major fire safety failures and emergency response lapses, leading to the suspension of eight officials.
- Pakistan's government announced that Noreen will receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat civil award and a financial reward for her actions.
- The exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed following conflicting initial explanations pointing to an air conditioner explosion or a nebulizer blast.
Key facts
- Fourteen newborns died and one survived after a fire rapidly spread through the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Aug. 26.[Associated Press]
- CCTV footage and inquiry findings showed nurse Razia Noreen entered the nursery for eight seconds to carry out the sole surviving infant before smoke and flames blocked further rescue attempts.[Associated Press]
- A government investigation found significant deficiencies in the hospital's emergency response and fire safety measures, leading to disciplinary actions and suspensions for eight officials.[Associated Press]
- The Pakistani government announced Noreen will receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat (Star of Service) civil award alongside a monetary reward.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The definitive root cause of the blaze has not been established, as authorities and hospital officials offered conflicting initial assessments citing an air-conditioning unit explosion or a nebulizer malfunction.[Associated Press]