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Around 150 Rescued from Karachi High-Rise Fire in Baloch Colony
A fire in Index Palace, Karachi, led to the rescue of ~150 residents, including elderly & children. No casualties reported. Two vehicles destroyed.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-12
Around 150 Rescued from Karachi High-Rise Fire in Baloch Colony

Around 150 people, including elderly residents and children, were safely evacuated after a fire erupted in Index Palace, a high-rise near Baloch Colony in Karachi on Thursday morning, according to police and rescue officials.

The fire broke out in the building’s basement parking area, reportedly due to a short circuit in a parked car, said Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan. The building, an eight-story structure with two basements, had no proper ventilation in the basement, causing smoke to engulf the upper floors and trigger panic among residents.

Rescue teams reached the scene promptly around 6:00 am, shortly after receiving the initial report at 5:47 am. Using ladders and other rescue equipment, residents from three floors — four flats per floor — were evacuated. Additionally, two people stranded on the rooftop were rescued using a snorkel system.

Khan confirmed that two cars were destroyed, and several others were damaged. The fire was brought under control by 8:30 am, with cooling operations continuing until 10:00 am.

Bahadurabad Station House Officer Mohammed Nawaz confirmed that the timely response helped prevent casualties, emphasizing the importance of coordinated rescue efforts.

The building lacked a fire safety system in the basement, and the residents were mainly from the Bohra community.

K-Electric also played a critical role in the rescue. Their staff helped save at least 25 individuals while isolating the electricity feeder supplying the building to prevent further hazards. Sadia Dada, Chief Distribution and Marketing Communications Officer at KE, praised the staff for going beyond safety protocols to ensure residents’ safety.

This incident highlights the ongoing need for robust fire safety measures in high-rise buildings across Karachi.
Tagged:

Rescue1122

KarachiFire

IndexPalace

BalochColony
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