Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Nurse Honored After Saving Newborn in Pakistan Hospital Fire
A fire started in a hospital nursery in Islamabad on August 26.
Fifteen newborns were being cared for there.
Nurse Razia Noreen ran into the burning room to save a baby.
She came back out with the newborn about eight seconds later.
The fire spread so quickly that the room became too dangerous to enter again.
Fourteen newborns died in the tragedy.
Noreen said she wanted to save all the babies and is still deeply upset.
Pakistan will give her a major service award and a cash prize for her bravery.
Razia Noreen rescued one newborn from a nursery fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
The fire on August 26 killed 14 of the 15 newborns in the nursery.
CCTV footage shows Noreen entering the burning unit and emerging with a baby about eight seconds later.
An inquiry found the nursery became catastrophically engulfed within approximately two minutes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will honour Noreen with the Sitara-i-Khidmat and a cash prize of around Rs 1 crore.
- Who
- Nurse Razia Noreen, the newborns in the nursery, hospital staff, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- What
- A nursery fire killed 14 newborns, while Noreen rescued one baby and was later selected for a national civil award.
- When
- The fire occurred on August 26; the award announcement followed the inquiry into the incident.
- Where
- The nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Why
- The award recognizes Noreen's courage and public service in risking her life to rescue a newborn.
- Hospital
- Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad
- Newborns in nursery
- 15
- Deaths
- 14 newborns
- Rescue time
- Approximately eight seconds
- Fire escalation
- The nursery deteriorated catastrophically within around two minutes
- Award
- Sitara-i-Khidmat, or Star of Service
- Cash prize
- Around Rs 1 crore, reported as approximately US$36,000