PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar has said the newborns who died in the hospital nursery fire did not die from burns, but from inhaling smoke and soot that entered their bodies through the respiratory system.
According to PIMS officials, 15 newborns were present in the nursery when the fire broke out. One child was rescued, while staff members attempted to enter the nursery to save the remaining babies, but a blast caused the ceiling to collapse.
PIMS Explains Identification of Newborns
Rana Imran Sikandar said the deceased newborns were identified through identification tags attached to their wrists. He said the tags remained intact, so DNA testing was not considered necessary.
He added that DNA testing would have been required if the bodies had been unidentifiable.
The explanation comes after some family members raised concerns over the identification process and questioned why DNA tests were not conducted before the bodies were handed over.
Questions Raised Over Number of Babies
National Assembly Standing Committee on Health member Dr Shazia Sobia said after visiting PIMS that she was informed that between 40 and 50 babies, rather than 15, were present in the nursery.
She also questioned how the bodies could be handed over to families without DNA testing.
The differing claims about the number of newborns present and the identification process have raised questions that may require further clarification as investigations into the incident continue.
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