Toddler dies of suffocation in fire

A minor child died after suffering suffocation during a fire that broke out at a home-based school in Khokhrapar on Monday.

The fire erupted suddenly at a school operating inside a residential house near Khokhrapar No 2 Post Office, within the limits of Khokhrapar police station. The flames quickly intensified, prompting a response from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Fire Brigade.

Firefighters reached the scene and launched rescue and firefighting operations, successfully evacuating children trapped inside the school. During the rescue, the condition of one child deteriorated due to suffocation. The child was immediately shifted to Sindh Government Hospital and later referred to the Civil Hospital Burns Ward by Chhipa Ambulance, where he died during treatment.

The deceased child was identified as two-and-a-half-year-old Ahad Zaidi, son of Nadir Zaidi. Fire brigade officials said the fire originated in two rooms located behind the ground-floor classrooms of the school, which is housed in a 120-square-yard residential building. The first floor of the building is used as a residence.

Officials added that curtains, cupboards and documents inside the affected rooms were completely gutted. Fire brigade authorities confirmed that the child died due to suffocation caused by smoke inhalation. It was also revealed that the deceased child was the son of a teacher employed at the school.