A devastating fire broke out in the basement of a 19-storey hotel in Lahore, killing three people and injuring at least six others, while rescue teams safely evacuated 275 individuals, including hotel guests, staff, and students attending a private academy event.
Punjab Government Secretary for Emergency Services, Rizwan Naseer, confirmed that the three victims died due to suffocation. Six people sustained burn injuries and were provided medical treatment.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, seven individuals were pulled from the most severely affected areas, while the total number of people safely evacuated reached 275. The Rescue Command and Control Center received the fire alert at 12:25 pm, prompting the deployment of 27 rescue vehicles.
Around 80 rescue personnel took part in the operation, swiftly evacuating hotel occupants amid thick smoke that spread to the upper floors. Burn victims identified as 37-year-old Mubeen, 18-year-old Ali, and 22-year-old Rashid were shifted to Services Hospital, while Patras Masih, Pehlawan Masih, and Maqsood received first aid on site.
Rescue teams recovered hotel employees Imran (30), Shehryar (25), and Riaz (30) from the three-level basement in critical condition. They were later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The affected building spans four kanals and includes three basements, with basement one suffering extensive damage. At the time of the incident, a private academy function was underway, resulting in a large crowd inside the premises.
Provincial Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar, the Punjab Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Rescue 1122 oversaw the operation. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an LPG gas leak in the hotel’s boiler room, though authorities say a full inquiry is underway.