A fire that broke out in the basement of a private hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg area on Saturday has claimed one life as firefighting and cooling operations remain underway.
According to rescue officials, the fire erupted after a boiler exploded in the hotel’s basement at a time when a private college event was underway and a large number of people were present inside the building.
Police said thick smoke quickly spread through corridors and stairways, triggering panic among hotel guests and event attendees.
Rescue operation underway
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and immediately launched evacuation and firefighting operations. Ten rescue vehicles and ambulances are currently engaged in rescue efforts.
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman later confirmed that 180 people were safely evacuated from the hotel.
Journalist Jahangir Khan, who is present at the scene, reported that efforts to fully control the fire are ongoing.
One person dies, six affected
Rescue officials confirmed that one person died as a result of the fire. The deceased has been identified as Imran, according to rescue authorities.
Officials further said that the number of people affected by the incident stands at six.
Earlier, one individual had sustained burn injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital. Police had identified the injured person as Mubeen, who was reported to be in critical condition.
DIG operations denies reports of death
DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said that rescuers controlled the fire effectively and confirmed that no fatalities have been reported so far.
He added that four injured individuals have been shifted to hospital for treatment, while a search operation is underway for two more people.
The DIG further stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine how the fire started.
Hotel structure and damage details
The hotel is located in a four-kanal, 19-storey plaza comprising three basements. Rescue sources said basement one has been severely affected by the fire.
The hotel administration stated that all guests staying in the hotel have been rescued. However, the whereabouts of the CCTV operator remain unknown, while the remaining 200 staff members are safe, according to hotel officials.
Eyewitnesses described alarming scenes inside the hotel, claiming that no fire alarm went off after the blaze started.
“When the door was opened, there was only smoke outside,” an eyewitness said, adding that emergency exit gates were closed at the time.
Another eyewitness reported heavy smoke and congestion on the seventh floor, saying the hotel administration did not guide people toward exits, forcing them to escape with great difficulty.
Earlier, police sources said some individuals were trapped on the upper floors of the building. Rescue teams used stairways and safety equipment to reach those areas as smoke continued to spread upward.
An eyewitness, Humayun, who escaped from the 14th floor, recalled the terrifying moments during the incident.
“I was in my room on the 14th floor when the fire broke out,” he said. “As soon as I realized what was happening, I used the stairs to come down.”
