At least 11 people including seven men and four women died and 70 others were injured when a massive blaze erupted at Karachi's private hotel in the wee hours of Monday. The hospital and rescue sources have confirmed the death toll and said all of the victims died from suffocation and when people jumped from the window to escape fire. The fire broke out in the kitchen of the hotel, located at Shahra-e-Faisal near Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation told media that there were foreigners including Chinese and Germans trapped in the hotel but have been evacuated safely. The hotel is clear now, a rescue official said.
Sinch Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the Karachi Commissioner to inspect all hotels in Karachi and make a comprehensive report on the fire fighting mechanism installed there. The injured are being provided medical assistance at JPMC, where an emergency was declared. SSP South Saqib Memon said over 300 people were present inside the building at the time of the incident. City Mayor, Waseem Akhtar also visited the site and confirmed the fire had been doused.