LAHORE: The late-night fire at a hotel in Lahore’s upscale Gulberg has left at least three people dead, triggering renewed concerns about fire safety standards in commercial buildings across Punjab.
The blaze broke out at the Indigo Hotel, prompting an urgent rescue operation that continued for several hours. Despite swift response efforts, three individuals lost their lives, while hundreds of others were evacuated safely a fact officials say prevented a far greater tragedy.
In this sense, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed confirmed the deceased were identified as Shehreyar, around 25 years old, Imran, approximately 30, and Riaz, also believed to be in his early 30s.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif remained closely engaged with the unfolding situation, issuing multiple updates through social media. She revealed that the fire originated in the hotel’s basement and said a total of 280 people, including 180 guests and 100 staff members, were successfully rescued.
The chief minister stated she was personally monitoring evacuation efforts using the Safe City drone surveillance system, underscoring the seriousness with which the provincial leadership viewed the incident.
Moreover, the preliminary findings suggest the fire was caused by an explosion linked to the hotel’s air-conditioning boiler system. Describing the incident as “severe,” the chief minister warned that negligence in safety compliance would no longer be tolerated.
Meanwhile, “Strict directives have been issued,” she said, adding that all commercial boiler and cylinder installations across Punjab must meet established safety standards.
“Any premises found endangering public safety will be sealed immediately, without exception.”
The incident comes at a time when the nation remains shaken by a devastating fire at a major shopping mall in Karachi, where at least 71 people have lost their lives a tragedy that continues to raise painful questions about enforcement failures.
Meanwhile, few days back same extreme incident happened in Karachi, it is Gul Plaza.
The Punjab government has announced province-wide reforms. The new building grading system will also classify structures based on safety conditions, while firefighting services are set to receive modern equipment, including drones and advanced technology.
