Fire in Lahore shopping centre leaves 13 dead, 2 injured
Punjab chief minister forms high level committee to probe incident. Announces compensation for victims of the fire
A fire broke out in Khalid Plaza, Al-Kareem Market of Urdu Bazar near Lohari Gate, Lahore on Monday evening apparently due to a short circuit in which 13 people, including a woman, were killed and two were injured.
The fire broke out at 5.32 pm in the evening before quickly spreading through the market that trades in watches and other small items. So intense was the fire, that it trapped a number of people inside.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Jam Sajjad Hussain said that the the real cause of the fire could only be ascertained after blaze is extinguished. He added that 16 firefighting vehicles and around 80 firefighters fought the fire while 25 ambulances evacuated the dead and injured to the hospital.
DG Rescue 1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer said that they faced difficulties in overcoming the fire due to the presence of a large crowd and only one entry and exit point to the venue. The fire was extinguished after four hours.
Rescue services and fire brigade officials said they faced problems owing to low visibility and narrow streets at the scene.
SP City Asad Sarfraz Khan said he had to use a loud speaker on multiple occasions to ask the gathered crowd to clear the area outside the affected building so that the rescue workers could work unhindered.
The District Co-ordination Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman said that the fire broke out due to short-circuit.
One of the shopkeepers of the market, Abu Bakar Butt, told The Express Tribune that Waleed, the son of the market union’s president was also among the dead.
MS Mayo Hospital Dr Amjad Shahzad confirmed that 12 bodies had been brought to them, including that of a woman. He added that initial examination of the dead showed that most had died of suffocation, while some had also suffered from burns.
One of the injured Mazhar Afzal, who suffered 15 per cent burn injuries was discharged after treatment.
The dead were identified by their relatives as Syed Sheraz Ali, Sanaullah, Ateequr Rehman, Nauman Khan, Waleed bin Ateeq, Azam Khan, Haji Ijaz.
Meanwhile, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the fire and asked the city district government to submit the report of the incident within 24 hours.
“All the resources should be utilized in saving the lives of the people who are in the Khalid Plaza and best treatment facilities should be provided to the injured people who are rescued,” said Sharif.
CM Shahbaz Sharif announced compensation for the victims of the fire. Rs0.5 million will be provided to the heirs of those who died, while Rs0.1 million will be provided to the injured.
CM also formed a highly level team which consists of Health Secretary, DCO, CCPO, Commissioner Lahore MNA Pervaiz Malik, Provincial Ministers Bilal Yasin and Mian Mujhtaba Shujaur Rehman and other members for the compensation and they will estimate the amount of loss incurred.
The fire broke out at 5.32 pm in the evening before quickly spreading through the market that trades in watches and other small items. So intense was the fire, that it trapped a number of people inside.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Jam Sajjad Hussain said that the the real cause of the fire could only be ascertained after blaze is extinguished. He added that 16 firefighting vehicles and around 80 firefighters fought the fire while 25 ambulances evacuated the dead and injured to the hospital.
DG Rescue 1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer said that they faced difficulties in overcoming the fire due to the presence of a large crowd and only one entry and exit point to the venue. The fire was extinguished after four hours.
Rescue services and fire brigade officials said they faced problems owing to low visibility and narrow streets at the scene.
SP City Asad Sarfraz Khan said he had to use a loud speaker on multiple occasions to ask the gathered crowd to clear the area outside the affected building so that the rescue workers could work unhindered.
The District Co-ordination Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman said that the fire broke out due to short-circuit.
One of the shopkeepers of the market, Abu Bakar Butt, told The Express Tribune that Waleed, the son of the market union’s president was also among the dead.
MS Mayo Hospital Dr Amjad Shahzad confirmed that 12 bodies had been brought to them, including that of a woman. He added that initial examination of the dead showed that most had died of suffocation, while some had also suffered from burns.
One of the injured Mazhar Afzal, who suffered 15 per cent burn injuries was discharged after treatment.
The dead were identified by their relatives as Syed Sheraz Ali, Sanaullah, Ateequr Rehman, Nauman Khan, Waleed bin Ateeq, Azam Khan, Haji Ijaz.
Meanwhile, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the fire and asked the city district government to submit the report of the incident within 24 hours.
“All the resources should be utilized in saving the lives of the people who are in the Khalid Plaza and best treatment facilities should be provided to the injured people who are rescued,” said Sharif.
CM Shahbaz Sharif announced compensation for the victims of the fire. Rs0.5 million will be provided to the heirs of those who died, while Rs0.1 million will be provided to the injured.
CM also formed a highly level team which consists of Health Secretary, DCO, CCPO, Commissioner Lahore MNA Pervaiz Malik, Provincial Ministers Bilal Yasin and Mian Mujhtaba Shujaur Rehman and other members for the compensation and they will estimate the amount of loss incurred.