KARACHI: A fire that broke out in an intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) on Tuesday morning caused extensive damage, officials said.

No one was reported injured in the incident.

NICH Executive Director Dr Nasir Saleem Saddal told Dawn that the blaze was controlled in time and all patients were immediately evacuated from the 10-bed unit.

“However, the fire caused extensive damage in the ward, destroying medical equipment and accessories, bed mattresses, plastic material, fans and the unit’s ceiling,” he said, adding that the fire also spread rapidly due to oxygen points.

Dr Saddal said initial information indicated that a cell phone had caught fire due to overcharging, which led to the incident. However, a short-circuit was also suspected.

“We have found burnt pieces of a cell phone. The actual cause will, hopefully, be known in two to three days as a committee comprising senior administrative staff has been set up for investigation,” he further said. The committee would also estimate the loss caused by the blaze.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026