At least 13 people dead in Lahore blaze

LAHORE: A fire in a plaza in New Anarkali area of Lahore left at least 13 people dead, including one woman and child, police and hospital sources confirmed.

According to sources, rescue teams reached the site immediately to put out the fire and recover the survivors as well as the victims.

The bodies and the injured were all taken to Mayo Hospital.

DCO Lahore confirmed that the victims died due to suffocation and burns.

APP adds:
According to the rescue 1122 and Mayo Hospital sources, nine bodies and six injured were shifted to the hospital where four of the injured succumbed to their injuries.

Rescue sources stated that the incident took place in a multi story building Khalid Centre near Urdu Bazaar Lohari market. This building had a number of wholesale garments shops.

District Coordination Office Capt (R) Muhammad Usman talking to the media on the spot said that the fire erupted due to short circuit in the building. He said that fire broke out near main endurance of the plaza which engulfed the whole building within four to five minutes and unfortunately people could not managed to escape.

Those among dead include Waleed Bin Mateen, Noman Javed, Azam Ali, Sheraz Ali, Atiqur Rehman, Iqbal Sheraz, Sanaullah Wali, Syed Mazhar and Muhammad Azam.

Medical Superintendent of the Mayo Hospital Amjad Shehzad told the media persons that suffocation was the main cause of deaths. He added that the injured were in stable condition.