Fire at another market in a week

Warehouses and shops on fifth floor gutted in blaze

KARACHI:

Millions of rupees worth of garments, cloth and other articles were burnt to ashes as a result of a blaze which erupted on the fifth floor of Victoria Shopping Center on Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar area on Wednesday.

The fire destroyed warehouses and shops on the fifth floor. However, the fire brigade managed to contain the blaze to only one floor. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Police, Rangers and rescue volunteers rushed to the spot as soon as the incident was reported.

The fire broke out at Victoria Shopping Center, located between Madina Shopping Mall and Zainab Market, at around 11:30am which soon intensified.

Flames and smoke billowed from the windows of the fifth floor of the building.

Firefighters were on the scene with snorkels while some even went inside the burning building to check if there were any people trapped.

Chief Fire Officer Mubeen Ahmed said that the fire was reported to the fire brigade at 12 noon following which the fire brigade personnel reached the spot along with fire tenders and snorkel and started efforts to control the blaze.

He said that the fire brigade personnel with the help of snorkel started the process of extinguishing the fire by breaking the windows of the 5th floor whereas the personnel faced difficulties in going upstairs to the shopping center as goods were also found stacked on the staircase.

Refuting the rumors of shortage of water, he said that water was being supplied continuously by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board through water tankers.

According to reports, the warehouses contained a large number of warm clothes which were stored for sale at the onset of winter. There were also leather jackets, sweaters, clothes and other items stored in the warehouses.

Upon receiving the report of fire, the traffic police closed the said road and diverted the traffic to alternative routes. Karachi Police Chief Imran Yaqub Minhas directed SSP South Zubair Nawaz to immediately reach the spot and monitor the rescue operations.

Read More: Short circuit triggers fire in Bara Market

According to the fire brigade, a total of 12 fire tenders and two snorkels took part in controlling the fire. Chief Fire Officer Ahmed said that the fire was brought under control by the personnel after a struggle by 4pm. However, the cooling process was still underway to put out the fire completely and it was not possible to say exactly how much longer it would take because garments can catch fire again.

Official response

South District Deputy Commissioner Irshad Sodhar talking to the media at the site said all the rescue and law enforcing agencies were on ground within seven minutes of the fire complaint. DC Sodhar said fire and rescue services major challenge is traffic jams, encroached roads and streets which obstruct their way.

Sodhar said that Karachi commissioner reviewed the whole process of extinguishing the fire in the commercial hub of the city.

While the government is held responsible for the blaze, he urged the traders to think about fire safety measures.

JI demands probe

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded of the Sindh government to launch a probe into the multiple incidents of inferno at markets in Karachi.

The JI leader said that a thorough probe into incidents was a must as it could be episodes of a designed conspiracy against the trade and industry sector of Karachi.

They JI leader also demanded of the government to pay compensation to the affected shopkeepers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2021.