Another fire ravages shanty settlement
Soon after the fire broke out, locals had rushed to the spot to control the blaze. PHOTO: EXPRESS
A fire broke out in shanties situated on an empty plot near Bab-e-Rehmat Masjid in Shaman Town and the blaze quickly intensified to engulf 45 huts.
Police said the fire was caused by an exploding gas cylinder while created a domino effect and caused several other such installations to also explode.
The fire caused panic among the residents of the shanties as they ran for their lives. The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from afar.
However, no casualties were reported. Due to the fire, household items in the huts were burnt to ashes.
As soon as the blaze was reported, the fire brigade reached the spot. Police, Rangers and relief volunteers also reached the scene.
Police and Rangers cordoned off the area and removed unauthorised persons from the scene so that relief work could continue uninterrupted.
According to the fire brigade, four fire engines and a bowser were dispatched to the spot as soon as the fire was reported. The fire fighters dowsed the flames after hectic struggle.
Read More: Two killed, as many injured in house fire
SHO Shara-e-Noor Jahan Aftab Abbasi said that when he reached the spot, the residents of nearby Maria Apartments said that the fire started due to the explosion of a gas cylinder which they heard before the fire.
During the fire, three more cylinders kept in the huts also exploded. He said that about 45 shanties, household items and a motorbike were also burnt to ashes as a result of the fire.
PTCL equipment, pipes, cables gutted in fire
Highly valuable cables, PVC pipes and other equipment were burnt during a blaze at a vacant plot behind the telephone exchange on II Chundrigar Road on Tuesday. No casualties were reported during the blaze.
Police, Rangers and other rescue agencies rushed to the spot and firefighters were called immediately. Meanwhile, the buildings and offices around the telephone exchange were also evacuated.
Three fire tenders reached the spot and later two more joined the firefighting personnel started immediate rescue operations.
According to the fire brigade officials, PTCL telephone exchange equipment were reduced to ashes. The cause of fire was not immediately known.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2021.