Fire safety equipment to secure cattle markets

As many as 126 fire safety system sets will be provided to nine divisions of PCMMDC throughout Punjab

LAHORE:

Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company (PCMMDC) to properly deal with the May 5 Shahpura Kanjra like fire accidents has decided to procure fire extinguishing system equipment with a spending of over Rs2.5 million.

As many as 126 fire safety system sets will be provided to nine divisions of the company throughout Punjab.

On May 5, a fire had erupted at Shahpura Kanjrana Cattle Market, the biggest cattle trade point in Punjab. An inquiry report had pointed that the loss and fire had aggravated due to absence of proper fire safety system and neglect of fire safety protocols.

The forensic investigations had unearthed short-circuit as the cause of fire. The fire had left 15 goats and 315 of the 591 wooden sheds to host cattle into ashes.

The fire had spread within minutes and turned into ha huge blaze by the time Rescue 1122 reached the spot in 12 minutes of the emergency call.

The experts of the inquiry team had pointed out that there were no fire extinguishers, emergency signs, fire alarm system for detection and extinguishing of fire and the cleared exit and entry points. These had obstructed the fire fighting operation.

To fill the gaps the PCMMDC is going to install the fire safety system sets at cattle markets throughout Punjab within weeks.

The fire safety system equipment to be procured by the company with a spending of over Rs2.5 million included as many as 126 sets of fire extinguisher, dry chemical powder along with controllable operative valve, wall hook and discharge pipe.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2022.