Firefighters could not speculate the final death toll, as they are still finding burnt bodies. PHOTO: REUTERS
Rescue workers recovered 17 more bodies on Friday before firemen managed to extinguish the blaze that had engulfed the nine-storey Lahore Development Authority (LDA) building.
With the discovery of more bodies, police say the death toll from a building fire has climbed to 25, surging from Thursday’s figure of eight fatalities. Fifteen people were reportedly missing.
According to DG Rescue Services, Dr Rizwan, the fire was brought under control at around 4 am.
“Upon entering the ninth floor, four hours later, we saw several bodies lying near the main entrance, completely charred and beyond recognition,” he said.
Firefighters could not speculate the final death toll, as they are still finding burnt bodies.
A 10-member “body identification team” has been constituted by DG rescue services, which will be headed by Dr Imam Syed and Dr Ahsan Mian.
Firemen also faced difficulties during the rescue mission. As many as four firefighters fell unconscious due to the smoke and heat inside the building.
One firefighter – identified as Azmatullah – received serious burns and was transferred to CMH.
“The fire safety commission will issue notices to owners who haven’t provided adequate fire exits and alarm systems in their building,” Dr Rizwan said.
When asked about the cause of the incident, the LDA Employees Union said there was “foul play” involved in the incident.
He said “records of a hundred employees, who were hired on back dates, were stored in the building,” which could have possibly irked people to set fire to certain floors in the building.
“Approximately 200 files of disputed plots in Iqbal Town, Mustafa Town and Johar Town as well as ledger books, litigation records, inquiry reports and other important data was also kept here,” Rasheed said.
The sixth floor of the plaza remained completely safe, because the duct system was disconnected there. The inferno, however, gutted at least four floors of the building. Rescuers said there were deep cracks on the roof top as well.
The structural engineer of the plaza said that construction of the building is done in a manner that it won’t fall, even after such a massive fire.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
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“The fire safety commission will issue notices to owners who haven’t provided adequate fire exits and alarm systems in their building,” Dr Rizwan said. A bit late in the day Dr. Rizwan. Aren't people on the take to grant exemptions from rule.
Pakistan is a joker's paradise and LDA takes the cake. Engineer's claim that the building will not fall in event of fire has no familiarity with fires heat and its impact on structures. My feeling is that LDA Plaza should be condemned when structural engineers review the outcome. Not rehabilitate it for a future collapse. Foremost they should arrest the arsonists and all those involved with LDA Plaza's fire safety violations and no escape routes in such contingencies. Failure all around is what one sees in Pakistan.