Three dead as fire breaks out at Lahore hotel, rescue underway

Three people died after a major fire broke out at the Indigo Hotel near Hussain Chowk in Lahore’s Gulberg neighbourhood on Saturday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson confirmed to The Express Tribune.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed, three missing persons were recovered from the site in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to hospital. “The deceased were identified as 25-year-old Shahryar, 30-year-old Imran and 30-year-old Riyaz,” he said.

Earlier, Rescue 1122 said it received a fire call from the hotel at 12:25pm. In response, 21 emergency vehicles and around 80 rescuers and officers were deployed to the site. A Rescue 1122 spokesperson said seven people were pulled out from the severely affected area.

Hotel management said Shahryar, a CCTV operator, and a man identified as Riyaz remained missing. The 19-storey building, spread over four kanals, has three basements, with Basement One reported to be the worst affected by the fire.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz mobilised the provincial administration after being informed of the incident. On her directives, Provincial Minister for Energy Faisal Ayub Khokhar, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Commissioner Lahore Maryam Khan and Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ali Ejaz reached the site.

“Until the operation is completed and every single person is safe, the entire team should continue the rescue operation,” the chief minister said.

Ambulances and rescue personnel at the site. PHOTO: REPORTER

Minister Khokhar reviewed the firefighting work and instructed officials to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured. “Thank God, all individuals have been safely evacuated from the hotel. The situation is completely under control,” he said, adding that cooling operations were under way after the fire was brought under control.

Officials said Punjab’s modern fire hydrant system played a key role in extinguishing the blaze. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif paid tribute to the rescue teams, saying the successful evacuation was the result of the government’s “Safe Punjab” vision and an effective hydrant network.

“Saving lives is a major success of the government and rescue institutions,” she said, thanking Rescue 1122 teams for their timely response.

The incident comes days after a deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, which broke out late on January 17 and took nearly two days to control, killing more than 70 people, leaving several missing and affecting hundreds of families.