Eight Pakistani Umrah pilgrims died while another six sustained injuries in a fire that erupted in a hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
According to the spokesperson for Pakistan Foreign Office, an incident of fire occurred in a hotel located on Ibrahim Khalil Road in Makkah.
The spokesperson said that the Pakistan consulate in Jeddah is in constant contact with the local authorities to help the victims and their families.
“We have reports of eight deaths and six Pakistanis got injured in the incident. Our mission in Jeddah is in contact with local authorities to provide relief to the victims and their families,” the spokesperson added.
According to media reports, the fire broke out in a room on the third floor of the hotel due to a short circuit and soon spread to other rooms.
PM Shehbaz expresses grief and sorrow
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed his grief and sorrow over death of eight Pakistan pilgrims who lost their lives in a hotel blaze in Makkah Mukarma.
The prime minister expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and offered condolences, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
He also prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the loss with fortitude.
The prime minister directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to look after the health of injured pilgrims and provide all possible facilities to the bereaved families.