Up in smoke: 28 shops gutted in Anarkali fire

Blaze erupted early in the morning when no one was present.

LAHORE: Businessmen saw their livelihoods go up in smoke as at least 28 shops were gutted at Muhafiz Plaza in New Anarkali early on Monday. Valuables worth millions were reduced to ashes, official said.

It took firefighters and Rescue 1122 officials almost nine hours to control the raging inferno. Eight fire tenders took part in the operation.

The fire broke out early in the morning in the plaza’s basement and the market was empty at that time. The flames soon spread through the market and thick clouds of smoke were seen billowing from the building. Locals called rescue teams to tackle the situation.

There were garments and other embroidery material in the plaza that was inflammable material.

Owners of the shops rushed to the scene and many of them were reduced to tears when they saw their valuables being reduced to ashes. In their state of despair, the businessmen exchanged colourful language with rescue teams who they blamed for failing to save the goods. Police teams deployed on the spot controlled the situation.

Rescue officials said the cause of the fire would be determined after a thorough inquiry.

Some weeks ago, at least 80 shops were gutted when a fire broke out at another plaza in New Anarkali near Urdu Bazar. In yet another fire incident at a plaza in Anarkali in 2015, 13 people lost their lives at a business centre dealing in clocks and wrist watches.

In their state of despair, the businessmen exchanged colourful language with rescue teams who they blamed for failing to save the goods.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2017.