Fire erupts in Karachi’s Hijrat Colony, 4 dead

KARACHI: Four members of the same family died on Saturday morning and eight others ere injured when a fire erupted in a building located in Hijrat Colony area of Karachi. 

Rescue officials said the victims include two women, a girl and a youth. They belonged to the same family and were living on the first floor of the building.

One person suffered serious injuries when he jumped from the third floor of the building to save his life. He has been shifted to JPMC for medical purposes.

Area residents said the fire brigade arrived after a delay over half an hour due to which the smoke filled the entire building and the victims suffocated to death.

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Rescue officials said the fire has been doused and the cooling process is underway. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear although there was eatery on the ground floor and garment store on the first floor.

Police and fire officials said narrow streets and car parking in the congested area hindered the firefighting and rescue operation but the fire was extinguished after a two hour operation.

According to a statement by Civil Lines police, eight others were also injured in the fire. The deceased and the injured were all shifted to Civil Hospital.  A  police constable was taken to JPMC after his condition worsened in the operation due to smoke.