Fire Breaks Out in Gulberg Hotel Basement
At least three people lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg area on Saturday. Rescue officials confirmed the fatalities as emergency teams battled flames for several hours. The incident caused panic in the busy commercial district but authorities said the situation was later brought under control.
According to police, the fire erupted in basement number one of the hotel. The building covers an area of four kanals and has 19 storeys along with three basements. Thick smoke quickly spread through the lower floors, making evacuation and rescue efforts difficult.
Emergency services rushed to the site soon after the fire was reported. Multiple fire tenders and rescue vehicles were deployed. Police cordoned off the area to allow rescue teams to operate freely. Nearby roads were temporarily closed to manage traffic and ensure safety.
Guests Evacuated Safely, Staff Members Trapped
Punjab Minister for Energy and Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar said all hotel guests were evacuated safely. He confirmed that the situation was largely under control. According to the minister, no guests were harmed during the incident due to timely evacuation efforts.
However, concerns remained for hotel staff members. Hotel management initially reported one person missing. Police later clarified that a hotel employee working as a CCTV operator was unaccounted for. Search operations continued inside the damaged basement areas.
Rescue sources later confirmed that two people had died in the incident. One of the victims was identified as a hotel employee working in the laundry section. Authorities did not immediately release details about the second deceased individual.
Rescue teams remained at the site to complete clearance operations. Firefighters continued cooling efforts to prevent reignition. Officials said smoke extraction was also underway to improve visibility inside the building.
Death Toll Rises, Chief Minister Orders Full Investigation
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz confirmed that the fire had been contained. She said the lives of hotel guests and many staff members were saved due to swift action by emergency responders. In a post on social media platform X, she stressed the importance of preventive governance.
“This incident reaffirms that governance must be preemptive, not reactive,” she wrote. She also confirmed that authorities rescued 180 people from the hotel and shifted them to safe locations.
In another update, the chief minister revealed that a 30-year-old man rescued in injured condition later died while being transported to the hospital. This brought the total death toll to at least three.
She further stated that two employees were still trapped in the basement at one point. All available resources were deployed to rescue them safely. Authorities later said the source of the fire had been identified and contained.
Police officials said a detailed investigation would be launched to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Safety arrangements, fire exits, and emergency systems at the hotel will be reviewed. Officials added that legal action would be taken if negligence is found.
The incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety in high-rise buildings across Lahore. Authorities have urged hotel managements to ensure compliance with safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.
