Two people were killed, and at least six others were injured after a fire broke out at a 19-storey hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg area, hospital and rescue officials said on Saturday.

Rescue 1122 said the control room received the emergency call at 12:25 p.m., after which 27 vehicles and 80 personnel were dispatched to the scene.

The operation successfully evacuated 275 guests and hotel staff.

Hospital authorities confirmed the deaths of 30-year-old Imran and 25-year-old Shehryar, who had been rescued from the hotel in critical condition. One employee, identified as Riaz, remains missing as search operations continue.

Six injured individuals were transferred to Services Hospital, including 37-year-old Mubeen, 18-year-old Ali, and 22-year-old Rashid. Three others — Patras Masih, Pehlwan Masih, and Maqsood — received first aid at the site. Mubeen sustained burn injuries to around 40 per cent of his body.

Rescue teams retrieved Imran and Shehryar from the hotel basement, which spans three floors and was the most severely affected by the fire. Smoke had also spread to the upper levels of the building.

Basement One of the four-kanal hotel was reported to be the most severely affected by the fire.

Cooling operations continue as rescue teams clear smoke-filled areas.

Seven individuals were rescued from particularly affected areas, officials added, as the search continues for the missing employee.

CM praises rescue response

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said in a post on X that the response team was mobilised immediately, with Energy Minister Faisal Khokhar, the commissioner, deputy commissioner and other officials present on site to oversee the operation.

She said the explosion of the air-conditioning system boiler was severe but added that the “swift, professional and heroic response” of Rescue 1122 and the Fire Brigade helped bring the fire under control.

She also noted that newly installed fire hydrants were fully functional and that recently implemented standard operating procedures played a critical role in containing the incident.

The chief minister said strict directives had been issued to ensure that all commercial boiler and cylinder installations across Punjab comply with safety standards, warning that any premises found compromising public safety would be sealed immediately.