Shoe-making factory in SITE area gutted in fire

At least five people, including three firemen, receive burn injuries

KARACHI: Firefighters were unable to douse the fire that erupted at a shoe-making factory in one of the biggest industrial areas of Karachi - SITE- despite hectic efforts of at least 24 hours.
The fire broke out at a shoe and slippers-making multi-storey building located near the Habib Bank roundabout in SITE area Thursday evening.
Following the information, firefighters with two fire tenders reached the site and participated in the extinguishing work. As the fire intensified, firefighters from across the city were called at the site to extinguish the fire but the firefighters were unable to control the blaze throughout the night.



Nearby factories were evacuated to avoid any untoward incident yet some flames partially damaged nearby factories.
As a result of the fire, at least five people, including three firemen received burn injuries and were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
The factory administration blamed factory employees for the fire and alleged that the employees deliberately set the factory fire after a row over payment of their salaries before the Eidul Azha holidays.
"A few workers from the factory set a chemical drum to fire resulting in the blaze," claimed factory administration. "They had an altercation with the accounts department over payment of salary."



The employees of the factory rejected the allegations made against them. "It is a complete joke," said Farhan Ismail, a factory employee. "Have you ever heard in the past that employees set fire to a factory over payment issues?" The employees admitted that they had an issue with the administration over the salary matter but it did not mean that they would set the factory on fire, adding that the administration was trying to change the nature of the incident over unexplained reasons.
Despite the intermittent rainfall in the city, firefighters were unable to diffuse the fire. Fire tenders from Pakistan Navy were also called to assist in extinguishing the fire and help in the rescue operation.
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Tehseen Siddiqui said that the firefighters faced trouble in controlling the fire because of winds and presence of huge quantities of different kinds of chemicals used in making shoes and slippers.



"There were a number of chemical drums inside the factory that exploded with the passage of time," CFO Siddiqui explained. "The firefighters controlled the fire with a proper strategy."
Some parts of the multi-storey building collapsed due to the heavy fire. Police investigators have started investigation over the claims made by the factory administration. "The administration has blamed employees for the fire and we are investigating the case," said SHO Amir Memon. "Our first priority is to extinguish the fire," he said, adding that the factory administration has named few of its employees allegedly responsible for the incident.



"We would properly investigate the case and question the factory administration and the employees," said Memon. "The fire brigade department's report regarding the cause of the fire would also help us investigate the case." He said the police was also looking for employees who were blamed for the incident while nothing could be said until the investigation was completed.
Fire brigade spokesperson said that the firefighters remained busy in extinguishing the fire by the Friday evening and it would take more time to douse the fire completely.