At least three people were killed in a fire at a hotel in Lahore’s Gulberg, according to rescue officials.

Punjab Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Farooq Ahmed said at least three people had been killed in the fire at the Indigo Hotel.

He said the victims were identified as Shehreyar, approximately 25-years-old, Imran, approximately 30-years-old, and Riaz, approximately 30-years-old.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also shared several updates about the incident on the social media platform X.

She also shared a video of Rescue 1122 Director General Rizwan Naseer, in which he termed the operation “difficult”, saying the building had 21 floors, three of which were located below the ground.

He said that there was a boiler in the basement, which was being heated using LPG cylinders, where the fire ignited. He said initially, the hotel staff were trying to put out the fire on their own. He said Rescue 1122 received the call around 12:25pm.

He said that rescuers entered the basement, a difficult task due to the heat and smoke.

Earlier, she said she was monitoring the evacuation and rescue operation through the Safe City drone system.

She had also said the incident was caused by the “explosion of the air-conditioning system boiler”, terming it “severe”.

“Strict directives have been issued: All commercial boiler and cylinder installations across Punjab must fully comply with safety standards. Any premises found compromising public safety will be sealed immediately, without exception,” she said.

The development comes as Karachi is reeling from a deadly fire at a popular shopping mall, which has claimed 71 lives so far.

On Thursday, the Punjab government gave two weeks to stakeholders to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) in plazas, schools and hospitals in the wake of Gul Plaza inferno.

“A building grading system has now been introduced across the province, under which safe buildings will be categorised as A-grade, while others will be graded according to their condition. The firefighting sector is being upgraded with modern technology, drones and state-of-the-art equipment,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said at a press conference in Lahore.