TAXILA, Dec 21: Among nine firefighters who were killed during rescue operation at Ghakkar Plaza Rawalpindi, five belonged to the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), Wah Cantonment

Spokesman for the POF Tariq Mehboob said here on Sunday that 15 firefighters and two fire engines had participated in the rescue operation at the site on the call of the Rawalpindi district administration.

He said during the operation these rescue workers put their lives at risk and five of them - Muhammad Sabir, Muhammad Irshad, Naveed Ahmed and Muhammad Zahid and their team leader Faisal Ghaffor - died.

He said another firefighter Muhammad Haneef was rescued from the rubble of the plaza and his condition is stated to be out of danger.

Bodies of the three firefighters were brought to Wah Cantonmnet from different hospitals of Rawalpindi, whose funeral prayers were offered at different places.

It is worth mentioning here that the firefighting unit of the POF ranks among the top ranking firefighting squad of the country.