The picture has been used for illustrative purposes.

At least eight newborn babies died at the District Head Quarters (DHQ) Hospital in Sahiwal after the air conditioner ran down in the nursery.

Additional health secretary Rafaqat Ali said at least eight infants died at the children’s ward of the hospital over the past 24 hours. Five of them died at the time when AC was working properly, while the rest died after it stopped functioning, he added.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif slammed the hospital authorities after infants’ deaths. Maryam tweeted a video of conditions in the hospital.

Rafaqat Ali said statements of the staff at the ward have been recorded and a report would be sent to the health secretary upon completion of the probe on Sunday evening.

However, Dr Shahid Nazeer, medical superintendent of the medical facility, said the children died after air conditioner stopped functioning amid hot weather. He denied that the children died owing to alleged negligence on the part of doctors.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar took notice of the death of children at the hospital.

The chief minister directed the provincial health secretary and the Sahiwal commissioner to carry out a thorough probe into the incident and submit a report.

He directed them to take action against those found responsible for the death of children.Enraged over the incident, their relatives staged a protest on the Noor Shah Road, calling for strict action against doctors of the government hospital.

However, they called off their protest and dispersed after the local police held talks with them and assured them of action against those responsible for the incident.

On the other hand, Sahiwal Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mian Zaman Wattoo took notice of the incident and ordered to investigate the matter.

He also paid an emergency visit to the hospital and directed to provide all facilities at the children ward.

The Meteorological department has predicted hot and dry weather in eastern Balochistan, Sindh, plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The highest maximum temperature in the country was recorded 51°C in Jaccobabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Moenjodaro, Larkana and 49°C at Bahawalnagar on Saturday.

The temperatures in Jacobabad and Sukkur will remain 49°C on Sunday, 48°C in Turbat and 47°C in Lahore, Faisalabad and Dera Ismail Khan, the Met office said. The Meteorological department has predicted maximum temperature of 38°C in Karachi on Sunday.
NNI News Service