A fire at the Indigo Hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg neighbourhood on Saturday resulted in three fatalities and a large-scale rescue operation, according to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122.
Details of the Incident
Rescue 1122 received a fire call at 12:25pm and deployed 21 emergency vehicles and approximately 80 personnel to the scene. Seven individuals were initially rescued from the affected areas. Three individuals – Shahryar, 25, Imran, 30, and Riyaz, 30 – were recovered in critical condition but later died while being transported to a hospital.
Three other individuals – Mubeen, 37, Ali, 18, and Rashid Ali, 22 – were taken to Services Hospital with injuries. Mubeen reportedly suffered burns covering 35-40% of his body. Patras Masih, Pehlwan Masih, and Muqaddas, 28, received first aid at the scene from Edhi volunteers and ambulance services.
Response and Investigation
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif mobilized provincial authorities following notification of the fire. Provincial Minister for Energy Faisal Ayub Khokhar, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Commissioner Lahore Maryam Khan, and Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ali Ejaz were dispatched to the site. The Chief Minister directed that rescue operations continue until all individuals were confirmed safe.
Minister Khokhar stated that all individuals had been safely evacuated and that the fire was under control, with cooling operations underway. Officials credited the city’s modern fire hydrant system with aiding in extinguishing the blaze. Chief Minister Sharif attributed the successful evacuation to the government’s “Safe Punjab” vision and the effectiveness of the hydrant network.
Recent Context
This incident follows a recent, larger fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi, which began on January 17 and took nearly two days to control, resulting in over 70 deaths and numerous missing persons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did Rescue 1122 receive the fire call?
Rescue 1122 received the fire call from the Indigo Hotel at 12:25pm.
Who were the three individuals who died in the fire?
The deceased were identified as Shahryar, 25, Imran, 30, and Riyaz, 30.
What role did the fire hydrant system play?
Officials stated that Punjab’s modern fire hydrant system played a key role in extinguishing the blaze.
As investigations proceed, it remains to be seen what caused the fire at the Indigo Hotel and whether further safety measures could prevent similar incidents in the future.
