PAKISTANI authorities began their probe today into the devastating fire that killed 14 newborn babies in a hospital nursery in the capital, Islamabad.

The fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences early on Wednesday spread so quickly that the two doctors, two nurses and other staff present were able to rescue only one baby among the 15 in the nursery.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed the investigating committee, led by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan.

They began taking statements from hospital staff, witnesses and families. The committee is expected to make urgent recommendations to Sharif within 72 hours and deliver a comprehensive report within six days.

Hospital and district officials initially said an exploding air-conditioning unit caused the fire.

But in its preliminary report, the hospital said a blast involving a nebuliser sparked the blaze, which spread within minutes because of the high concentration of oxygen in the nursery.

The committee has not reached its own conclusion and will independently determine the cause, the city administration said.

The deaths prompted authorities to order broader reviews of fire-safety measures and firefighting equipment at hospitals.

In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, the government instructed the health department to immediately review fire safety systems and emergency response facilities, according to a government statement.

Mr Sharif sacked Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the Health Ministry’s highest-ranking civil servant, after the fire.

Grieving parents have demanded answers about how the fire began and whether the nursery had adequate firefighting equipment.

The United Nations children’s agency, Unicef, said it was saddened by the deaths and called for an urgent review and strengthening of fire-prevention and safety standards at health facilities.

The fire was among Pakistan’s deadliest recent tragedies involving children.

In June, 14 schoolchildren were killed when the roof of a tutoring centre under construction collapsed in the eastern city of Lahore.