Truck carrying fireworks catches fire near warehouse

Explosions cause panic in area, vehicles parked nearby gutted in fire

KARACHI:

A truck carrying firecrackers outside a warehouse near Sea Breeze Plaza on MA Jinnah Road caught fire, causing panic in the area due to exploding of firecrackers. A minivan and a truck were completely burnt to ashes while two vehicles were partially damaged during the high-intensity fire. Six fire brigade vehicles reached the spot and put out the fire.

At around noon time on Sunday, firecrackers were being placed from a truck in the warehouse of Hanif Memon alias Patakha near Sea Breeze Plaza on MA Jinnah Road when a mysterious fire broke out in the firecrackers loaded on the truck. Firecrackers began to explode, the sound of which could be heard from far away. Meanwhile, residents and warehouse workers tried to put out the fire on their own. The smoke was visible for many kilometers. Residents immediately informed the fire brigade and six fire brigade vehicles reached the spot and put out the fire after a half-hour struggle. According to the fire brigade, the cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained.

Warehouse owner Hanif Memon alias Patakha said that crackers, ordered for Diwali, are sold at his warehouse. The truck caught fire while it was transporting the firecrackers to the warehouse. It is suspected that someone threw a burning cigarette on the truck that caused the incident. The firecrackers were worth about Rs2 million. Hanif Memon said that he had a licence to buy and sell firecrackers. The firecrackers were made in China and contained fruit sticks, pomegranate bombs, rocket bombs and cake bombs etc.