Store fire reaches ground floor
A fireman stands by the fire engine spraying water on the mezzanine floor of the building where fire erupted in the warehouse of a departmental store housed in the basement. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express
The fire that broke out on Wednesday in the basement of a residential and commercial building, used by a renowned departmental store as their warehouse on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, could not be controlled until Thursday evening. The flames have reportedly spread to the ground floor of the building.
Dark clouds of smoke billowing from the fire have shrouded the vast area. Residents in the surrounding area have complained that smoke is causing breathing problem to them.
Despite all out efforts by firefighters the intensity of blaze is still high. The fire has damaged the basement and the plaster of the ceiling beneath ground floor is seen peeling off at many places. There is a fear that flames, if not controlled, may melt the iron bars and creep into the ground floor area.
Fire brigade teams are using every possible method to extinguish flames. They say that massive storage of cooking oil, ghee, body spray, perfumes and other inflammable material has increased the intensity of fire.
During the operation, firefighters also broke walls at many places in the basement to contain the flames.The affected building houses 170 flats. The residents of the building have been evacuated and shifted to safer places. Residents of other buildings in the area have also moved out complaining difficulty in breathing due to smoke and smell of burning chillies and other material.
Action against responsible
Karachi Commissioner, Muhammad Iqbal Memon and other officials also visited the site on Thursday morning.
Talking to media persons, the commissioner said that action would be taken against those responsible. The matter will also be investigated to find out if building by-laws were violated, he said.
Youth died of suffocation identified
A young man who died of suffocation in the building has been identified as Wasiuddin. The deceased's brother Faizan said that it was the first day of the deceased's job.
Faizan said that Wasi was very happy after getting the job. He said, Wasi was graduating in economics from Karachi University and it was his final year.
Faizan has demanded a legal action against those responsible.
Building uninhabitable
The Director General of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Ishaq Khorro visited the spot last night.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said that the building has been declared partially damaged. He said, the intensity of the fire is so high that the pillars and structure of the building are damaged and the building is currently uninhabitable.
He said that after the fire is extinguished completely, the building would be inspected and a final decision would be taken on the actual condition of the building.
Details of NGO sought on petition in fire case
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought information from members of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on a petition against illegally converting the parking of a residential project into warehouse of a private store.
The petitioner’s counsel contended, “It is illegal to use the parking lot by a private store as a warehouse. Had the petition been granted, the fire incident would not have taken place. The buildings in the area have also been asked to be evacuated. Where would the residents go in such a situation? The Supreme Court has also ordered to stop illegal constructions and encroachments.”
The court sought the credentials of the members of the petitioning NGO. The court adjourned the hearing indefinitely without issuing any notice to the administration.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2022.