Five siblings die in Karachi shanty town fire

KARACHI: Five children of the same family on Friday died in a fire incident near the Federal Urdu University in Gulshan e Iqbal area, Karachi, Bol news reported.

Bol news reporter Kamran Minhas said the incident took place because of electricity short circuit in a slum area behind Block 19, where more than 500 huts have been established illegally. The fire completely burnt down hut of the victim family and a rickshaw, which was parked close to it. Four other huts were also partially damaged.

Police said the deceased siblings had been identified as Saima, 12, Tayyaba, 8, Farhan, 11, Kamran, 9, and Zaiba, 4.

Read more: Sindh govt forms committee to compensate fire-affected traders of Sadar markets

Rescue 1122 teams immediately arrived, completed rescue operation and transferred all the victims to a trauma center, where they were provided first aid. Children were facing difficulty in breathing after inhaling smoke.

Sources said short circuit erupted the fire.

On January 31, Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab had said that the Sindh government had decided to compensate the affected shop owners of the Cooperative and Victoria Markets whose businesses were severely affected because of fire incidents.

Taking to Twitter, the administrator had informed that the committee had been formed to ascertain the loss caused and provide the traders with compensation accordingly.