Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Amin escape unhurt from fire in Karachi hotel

Fire broke out in the Regent Plaza hotel in Karachi and has resulted in the death of 11 people while more than 75 have been injured. It started in the kitchen that is on the ground floor of the four-star hotel located on the city’s Shahrah-i-Faisal, and spread to other parts of the building in no time. Three fire trucks were rushed to the spot and the injured were taken to the Jinnah hospital. Among those affected were Pakistan internationals Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Amin.

“We have received 11 dead bodies and 75 injured, four women were among the dead,” Seemin Jamali, a doctor at Karachi’s Jinnah hospital, was quoted by AFP.

Cricketers from the United Bank Limited (UBL) team were also staying on the fourth floor of the hotel; most of them were sleeping and woke up to the fire, said Nadeem Khan, head of the UBL Sports Department. He also said that Yasim Murtaza a bowler of the team jumped from the second floor in order to save his life and has fractured his ankle. He is in the hospital now.

He also said that Pakistan international Sohaib Maqsood was staying in the same hotel but he was safe in the fire. Maqsood kept himself safe and also helped them rescue others who were trapped. Pakistan fast bowler Umar Amin also managed to escape unhurt. Team sources also confirmed that Karamat Ali injured his hand from broken glass. The scheduled match with Habib Bank will therefore not go ahead today.

Nadeem said that the UBL Quaid-i-Azam trophy match against Habib Bank Limited that was scheduled for today will now be moved to another date.

Danyal Gilani spokesperson of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said that as many as 16 crew members of the airlines were also in the hotel and have sustained various injuries in the fire. Most of them were given basic treatment at the hospital and have been discharged while a few of them are still undergoing treatment.