KARACHI, Jan 20: The rescue workers on Saturday finally removed the rubble from the fire-devastated garment factory as the five-day rescue operation concluded. Seven firemen and a factory worker were killed and several others injured on Jan 15 when the three-storey portion of the Union Export Company in Site caved in after a devastating blaze.

The bodies of Naveed Ahmed, station fire officer of Baldia, Yasir Iqbal, SFO of Nazimabad, and firemen Mohammed Javed and Mohammed Saleem were recovered from the rubble on the first day. The next day, a factory worker succumbed to his injuries at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Later on Jan 17, the rescue workers retrieved the charred bodies of Imtiazul Haq, fire officer, and two firemen, Ahmed Noor and Naseer Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Town Nazim Liaquatabad Osama Qadri visited the residence of Sub-Station Officer Nazimabad Imtiazul Haq and handed over a compensation cheque for Rs500,000 to his widow on behalf of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.