An electrical short circuit ignited a blaze in the operating theatre of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, on Saturday.
The fire broke out shortly after noon, sending thick smoke billowing through corridors and prompting an immediate evacuation of patients and staff from the surgical wing. Rescue teams arrived within minutes, deploying fire‑extinguishers and a portable ladder to contain the flames, while hospital personnel tended to those exposed to the smoke. Preliminary reports indicate that no one sustained serious injuries, though several patients required temporary relocation to other wards for observation.
Hospital officials confirmed that the blaze originated in the main operating theatre, where a short circuit in the electrical wiring appears to have sparked the fire. The incident mirrors a recent emergency at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where a similar electrical fault led to a major fire, intensifying scrutiny over safety standards in public medical facilities across the country.
Health department representatives in Rahim Yar Khan have launched an inquiry to determine why the wiring failed and whether routine maintenance checks were overlooked. The provincial health ministry has urged all hospitals to conduct comprehensive safety audits, emphasizing that reliable power infrastructure is essential for uninterrupted patient care, especially in regions where medical resources are already stretched thin.
The temporary shutdown of the operating theatre is expected to delay elective surgeries and strain the hospital’s capacity to handle emergencies. Residents of Rahim Yar Khan, who rely heavily on Shaikh Zayed Hospital for tertiary care, expressed concern over the disruption, fearing longer waiting times and the need to travel farther for critical procedures.
Authorities have pledged to expedite repairs and reinforce fire‑prevention measures throughout the facility. The episode underscores a broader call for stricter compliance with electrical safety codes in Pakistan’s healthcare sector, aiming to prevent future incidents that jeopardize both lives and essential medical services.