Lahore witnessed a devastating incident on Wednesday as a house fire in the Bhati Gate area took the lives of 10 members of a family, including three women and six children. The incident left the community in shock and mourning, with only one family member managed to survive by leaping from the building. According to rescue officials, the fire originated from an explosion in the compressor of a refrigerator. Tragically, the house lacked proper ventilation, which hindered the escape of smoke and contributed to the severity of the incident. Among the identified victims were Adil Hussain, Saira Bano, Farzana, Amber, Ghazal, Fatima, and a seven-month-old baby. Efforts are still underway to identify the remaining individuals who lost their lives in this horrific event.

 Adil's father, while speaking to the media, revealed that Adil had urgently contacted him around 2:45 am, pleading for assistance. By the time help arrived, the blaze had engulfed the house, leaving nothing behind but devastation. Providing further details about the victims, Adil's father expressed the heart-wrenching loss suffered by their family. Alongside his son, the lives claimed by the fire included his wife, daughter-in-law, her two children, as well as his elder daughter and her four children. The authorities have announced that the bodies of the deceased will be released to their respective families once identification and medico-legal formalities are completed. In the meantime, the rescue team is actively working on cooling down the burned structure.

After knowing of the tragedy, Punjab's interim chief minister, Mohsin Naqvi, promptly addressed the matter, directing the Lahore commissioner to provide a detailed report. He emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation into the incident and conveyed his condolences to the grieving members of the affected family.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP