Four burnt as blaze erupts in high-rise building

Sources say fire broke out in AC unit installed on the premises

RAWALPINDI:

Four people suffered burns while four others fainted when a fire broke out on the 10th floor of a high-rise residential building located in a private housing society in the Rawat area.

According to a spokesperson from Rescue 1122, four people fainted due to smoke filling in different parts of the building.

He added that the fire originated from the air conditioner unit installed within the premises, resulting in significant damage to a flat. Resultantly, numerous families residing in the building were swiftly relocated to a safe location through the diligent efforts of Rescue 1122.

The spokesperson said that the rescue operation involved the participation of six ambulances, three specialised rescue vehicles, and three fire tenders to effectively address the fire incident in the high-rise residential building.

The spokesperson said that the fire broke out on the 10th floor leading to the dispersion of smoke which filled various parts of the building and caused panic among the residents. He said that Tahir Mehmood, aged 40, suffered burns covering 50 per cent of his body, while Asia Bibi, aged 38, endured burns encompassing 70 per cent of her body. Additionally, 10-year-old Sarim Mehmood and 6-year-old Sana Mehmood sustained burns covering 30 per cent of their bodies.

Moreover, four individuals, Kashif aged 29, Hamad aged 20, Haider Shah aged 23 and Zeeshan aged 18, fainted due to the smoke-filled environment and were subsequently transferred to various hospitals, including the District Headquarters Hospital. The four individuals who sustained injuries in the fire have been transferred to the Holy Family Hospital for further medical treatment, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2023.