A fire that broke out in the basement of a hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg area on Saturday caused panic among guests and staff, leaving one man dead and several others injured, officials said.
The blaze started in the lower levels of the 19-storey building and quickly filled parts of the hotel with smoke, prompting an immediate response from Rescue 1122 and firefighting teams. Authorities confirmed that all 180 guests and staff members inside the hotel were safely evacuated.
According to rescue officials, the body of a man identified as Imran was recovered from the building during search operations. Five other people sustained burn injuries, including one who suffered severe burns and was shifted to hospital in critical condition. The remaining injured were reported to have received minor burns.
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said one CCTV operator, identified as Shahryar, was initially reported missing, but a double-check of the building was later launched to ensure no one remained trapped inside. Officials added that the hotel complex is spread over four kanals and includes three basement levels, with Basement I suffering the most damage.
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman Akhtar and Deputy Commissioner Captain (r) Ali Ijaz visited the site to supervise rescue and firefighting efforts. Speaking to the media, the chief secretary said the fire was confined to the basement and sufficient water was available to control the blaze, which was expected to be fully extinguished soon.
A guest, Humayun, who was staying on the 14th floor, described scenes of confusion as smoke alarms went off. He said he used the stairs to escape after realising the danger and added that no one on the upper floors appeared to be hurt.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif praised Rescue 1122 teams for safely evacuating all those inside the hotel. On her directives, senior provincial officials remained at the site as teams carried out a full inspection. Authorities later confirmed that the fire had been brought under control and investigations were underway to determine its cause.
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