Cloth market gutted in Quetta fire

Shopkeeper alleges fire brigade failed to reach on time despite repeated calls

QUETTA:

At least 300 shops were reduced to ashes when a huge fire engulfed a cloth market in Quetta’s Pashtoonabad area on Thursday. Initially, fire broke out in two shops which gradually spread to the entire market, Deputy Commissioner Quetta Shehbak Baloch told The Express Tribune.

The shopkeepers and local residents of the area tried their level best to bring it under control but nothing worked and the entire market was engulfed in the inferno. The roaring flames and thick-black smoke was visible from miles away.

“Despite repeated calls the fire brigade and fire fighters didn’t show up,” Niamatullah, a shopkeeper told The Express Tribune, adding that as a result all the shops were completely gutted in the fire.

The fire brigade later reached the spot and extinguished the fire after hours of firefighting activity. The fire brigade claimed that they reached the spot on time and brought it under control.

Later the angry shopkeepers blocked the main Gwalmandi Chowk for all types of traffic and staged a protest demonstration against the incident. “We demand probe into the incident to investigate the causes of the fire and fix responsibility,” Niamatullah said. The protest continued for more than two hours.

Deputy Commissioner Quetta and other officials held successful negotiations with the protesters and assured them that an inquiry will be held in the case after which the shopkeepers opened the road. Meanwhile Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo took notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry.