At least 30 people burnt to death by fire in huts in Karachi

KARACHI: At least 30 persons, including  women and children  were burnt alive to death when a big fire engulfed about two dozen hutments in Sector 5 of North Karachi, opposite Bilal Colony a little after midnight.
Chhipa ambulance sources put the death toll at 32, Edhi sources counted 30 dead while doctors at Abassi Saheed Hospital said that 23 bodies were brought there. Over 20 persons mostly with serious burn injuries were stated to be in precarious condition.

Fire Brigade reached the scene and started making hectic efforts to control the fire.

Dozens of ambulances of Edhi and Chhipa also reached the spot and started shifting the dead and the injured to hospitals where an emergency was declared.

The casualties were caused because the fire caught them while they were asleep and could not find any escape route.

According to hospital sources the injured were in a precarious condition as they received severe burn injuries.

Rescue teams  arrived and started rescue operation while local people also gathered there in large number and extended help in rescue operation.

It is believed that fire started from a hut  and soon engulfed other huts because of the breeze.

It was also learnt that that they were getting electricity through  a “conda” (hook) connection. The conda wire fell on their huts whereafter the huts caught fire which soon engulfed all the huts.