Lahore, January 24, 2026 – The Europe Today: At least two people were killed after a fire broke out at a hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg area, according to rescue officials.
Punjab Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Farooq Ahmed said the fire at the Indigo Hotel claimed the lives of two individuals, identified as Shehreyar, around 25 years old, and Riaz, approximately 30 years old. He added that rescue teams responded promptly to the incident.
In a separate statement, the Edhi Foundation confirmed that the bodies were shifted to a hospital.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif shared several updates regarding the incident on the social media platform X. She said the fire erupted in the basement of the hotel and that a total of 280 people — including 180 guests and 100 staff members — were rescued during the operation.
According to the chief minister, one injured person was shifted to Services Hospital, while two others suffered suffocation due to smoke inhalation.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said rescue and evacuation operations were being monitored through the Safe City drone system. She stated that the incident was caused by the explosion of the hotel’s air-conditioning system boiler, describing it as severe.
Issuing strict directives in the aftermath of the incident, the chief minister said all commercial boiler and cylinder installations across Punjab must strictly comply with safety standards.
“Any premises found compromising public safety will be sealed immediately, without exception,” she said.
Authorities said investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the fire.
