KARACHI, Jan 17: The possibilities of rescuing the victims buried under the debris of fire-devastated garment factory became extremely bleak as rescue workers retrieved the charred bodies of three firemen early on Wednesday.

The death toll in the incident is now eight, six firemen and two factory workers.

The recovered bodies were identified as those of Imtiazul Haq, fire officer, and Naseer Ahmed and Ahmed Noor, firemen. Their bodies were so badly charred that the fire officer was identified from the steel badges of his uniform and Naseer through his wrist watch.

Half of the rubble had been removed as the rescue operation entered the second day.

“The devastated building is still smouldering and we are moving inch by inch”, Chief Fire officer Kazim Ali said.

Rescue workers said at least two more persons – a fire man and a factory worker – were still trapped under the wreckage.

“We hope to reach them around midnight or early tomorrow morning’, they said. Meanwhile, the site police have registered a case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Cole against the management of the garment factory. No arrest, however, had been made so far.