KARACHI: Around 150 people, including elderly people and children, were rescued after a fire erupted in a high-rise building near Karachi’s Baloch Colony on Thursday, according to police and rescue services officials.

Bahadurabad Station House Officer Mohammed Nawaz told Dawn that the fire broke out in the Index Palace in Sharifabad, near the Baloch Colony bridge.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan, meanwhile, told Dawn that it was an eight-storey building with two basements, where vehicles were parked.

“The blaze took place inside the parking space, ostensibly due to some short circuit failure in a parked car,” he said.

“Since the high-rise building had no ventilation, smoke spread and engulfed the building,” he said.

Though the fire only spread up to the first floor, smoke engulfed the whole building, spreading fear and panic among the residents.

Khan said two rescue teams were on site, with one engaged in rescue operations.

“With the help of ladders, residents from three floors — with four flats on each floor — were rescued,” he said.

Later, firefighters entered the building and safely rescued people, including the elderly, women and children, from the upper floors.

“Two people who had gone to the rooftop of the building were rescued with the help of a snorkel,” Khan added.

“With the timely action of the rescue team, around 150 persons were rescued safely,” he said.

The spokesperson said Rescue 1122’s command and control system received information about the fire erupting in the basement around 5:47am, with firefighters reaching the scene at 6am.

Initially, they were informed that fire had erupted where the generator was kept in case of power failure; however, it later transpired that the fire erupted in a car due to a short circuit, which spread and engulfed other parked vehicles.

Khan said two cars were destroyed, while a few others were damaged. The blaze was brought under control at 8:30am, while cooling work continued till 10am.

The Rescue 1122 spokesperson further said that the building had no fire safety system in the basement, and that mainly members of the Bohra community resided in the building.

Meanwhile, electricity distribution company K-Electric (KE) in a statement said that its staffers displayed remarkable bravery and helped save at least 25 individuals from the fire.

“KE teams responded promptly after the fire incident was notified, and the feeder supplying electricity to the affected area was isolated in line with the company’s safety protocols,” the statement read.

“This timely action was taken to eliminate any potential electrical hazard and to ensure the safety of residents and surrounding infrastructure.”

Sadia Dada, the chief distribution and marketing communications officer at KE, was quoted as saying: “We know how to go above and beyond our mandate for the betterment and safety of Karachi and its people. I laud my staff that not only followed safety protocols but also helped save lives.”