KARACHI:
A chemical factory caught fire on Saturday in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) area of Karachi.
Asadullah Khan, the Managing Director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) declared a state of emergency on NEPA and Sakhi Hassan water hydrants.
Khan said several water tankers have been dispatched to the area. In addition, officials from the hydrant cell have also been dispatched.
"Water supply from the fire brigade will continue until the fire is under control," he added.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed Karachi Administrator Laiq Ahmed to ensure that the fire is put out immediately and there is no loss of human life.
Laiq Ahmed informed the chief minister that two labourers were rescued, adding that six fire tenders are trying to put out the fire.
Last week, an intense fire broke out in a cardboard factory in New Karachi, as a result of which goods worth millions of rupees were reduced to ashes.
Upon being informed of the incident, police and Rangers personnel reached the site and cordoned off the area where the factory was located.
Meanwhile, area residents, who said they had called the fire department as soon as the fire erupted, found themselves on their own, struggling to contain the intensifying blaze, due to the delay in the arrival of firefighters.
According to the residents, firefighters reached the site after a delay of around 45 minutes. Saying that fire tenders were sent from Gulistan-e-Johar fire station, instead of one nearby, they lamented that the loss caused by the fire could have been minimised had the help arrived earlier.
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