KARACHI: One person has died of suffocation after being trapped in a department store in Karachi where a fire broke out Wednesday morning. Three other people received burn injuries.
The deceased, who was yet to be identified, was retrieved from the mezzanine floor of the apartment complex in which the store is located. His dead body was first moved to Civil Hospital, and then later to Jinnah Hospital.
According to the Jinnah Hospital Additional Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, the victim is around 32 years of age.
Three people are being treated at Civil Hospital’s Burns Ward for burn injuries.
According to the latest update the fire, which started in the basement, has reached the reception of the complex.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported a fire erupted in the basement of a supermarket located in a residential building near Kashmir Road.
Rescue officials said six tenders were used to douse the fire which erupted in the basement of the Chase supermarket near Jail Chowrangi. The firefighters declared it a third-degree fire and more fire engines were called into the rescue operation.
Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said Rescue 1122 and Fire Brigade are jointly attending to a fire incident at the junction of Jail Chowrangi and Kashmir Road.
Police officials said that the staff and customers of the departmental store were safe and there were no reports of the presence of anyone inside the store. According to reports, two people fainted due to the billowing smoke and were shifted to the hospital.
A Rangers spokesman said paramilitary personnel were present at the scene after the fire broke out and were working with rescue teams to bring the fire under control.
