Welding sparks raise fire safety concerns at Karachi children's hospital

Summary KARACHI: Fire safety concerns have resurfaced at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) after welding work was carried out inside a nursery housing dozens of newborn babies, including infants dependent on oxygen. The incident has also drawn attention to earlier fire safety concerns identified at NICH. The latest footage has raised renewed questions about fire safety compliance during repair work in an occupied nursery. AI Generated Summary KARACHI: Fire safety concerns have resurfaced at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) after welding work was carried out inside a nursery housing dozens of newborn babies, including infants dependent on oxygen. Video footage from the hospital shows a man using a welding torch inside the nursery while newborns remained on beds only a few metres away. Sparks from the welding equipment can be seen flying across the area. Sources said between 80 and 120 children were being treated in the nursery when the repair work was underway. Most of the patients were newborns, with several reportedly receiving oxygen. The welding was reportedly being carried out to create an emergency exit and install an iron grille to provide another access route to a semi-critical care unit. However, the decision to conduct such work in an occupied nursery has raised questions about whether sufficient safety measures were put in place. Fire safety experts have warned that welding near oxygen cylinders or patients receiving oxygen can create a serious fire hazard. Sparks can ignite combustible materials, while an oxygen-rich environment can accelerate the spread of fire. The incident has also drawn attention to earlier fire safety concerns identified at NICH. A previous audit had declared the hospital's fourth, fifth and sixth floors highly hazardous and highlighted several deficiencies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The audit found electrical and oxygen points installed close to each other. It also reported leakage in parts of the oxygen supply system, while some pipe joints had allegedly been sealed with tape. Unsafe and exposed electrical wiring was also identified as a potential fire risk. The hospital's fire alarm system was found to be non-functional, while many smoke detectors were either faulty or inactive. The audit also pointed to a shortage of fire extinguishers and inadequate fire-safety training for staff. Regular fire drills were reportedly not being conducted. Some emergency exits were found blocked by equipment and waste, while the power room was accessible to the public and lacked sufficient fire detection and firefighting arrangements. The NICU's mechanical ventilation system was also reported to be non-functional. Temporary and exposed wiring connected to older air-conditioning units was identified as another safety concern. NICH has experienced fire incidents in the past. A fire was reported in the hospital's ICU on June 30. In January 2020, a newborn died after an incubator caught fire. The earlier audit had recommended immediate measures to secure electrical, oxygen and ventilation systems, restore fire alarms and smoke detectors, clear emergency exits and conduct regular fire drills. The latest footage has raised renewed questions about fire safety compliance during repair work in an occupied nursery. Attempts were made to obtain the hospital administration's response, but NICH Director Professor Nasir Saleem did not respond to repeated requests for comment.