ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – The intense fire that broke out in a Pearl Continental Hotel has been extinguished on Wednesday after an hour of strained efforts.
According to a private news channel, the up scale hotel located on Rawalpindi’s Mall Road, caught fire moments after midnight. Several fire tenders as well as troops of Pakistan Army kick-started fire fighting operation.
The conflagration did not entail any fatality. Following the incident, the affected hotel’s guests was evacuated to another hotel.The investigation into the cause of the blaze is in progress.
The hotel has been temporarily shut down for routine operations. Rescue officials said the flames have been completely put out and no loss of lives has been reported.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar stated that the fire started in the basement floor of the hotel. The DCO further added that no information can be given on the presence of foreigners in the hotel. He stated that cause of fire is being investigated. The DCO said that action shall be taken against the flawed safety arrangements.
People were earlier seen hanging from the windows of the fourth and fifth floor of the hotel in order to save their lives. The army was called in to assist with the rescue effort.
Rescue officials said two fire tenders and a sky lift were used during the rescue effort.
