Two injured as fire engulfs cinema

LAHORE: Two people received burns and valuables worth millions of rupees were destroyed on Tuesday after a fire broke out at a cinema in Garhi Shahu.

An employee of Cine Star Taj Cinema, popularly known as Crown Cinema, said that the fire broke-out at around 2pm. “We tried to control it by sprinkling water and using fire-extinguishers, but it started spreading. Then we called rescue teams,” he said.

Manager Faheem, and an employee, Asghar, suffered burns while trying to control the fire. Rescue teams later took them to a nearby hospital. The fire then spread to the whole building. A cloud of thick smoke covered the locality. A large number of people from nearby shops, Garhi Shahu Bazaar and the houses gathered there.

Fire fighters from Rescue 1122 and the Fire Brigade reached the area. Police personnel cordoned off the area. Traffic wardens set up diversions to maintain the flow of traffic. It took the fire fighters at least an hour to put out the fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2016.